Brian William O'Leary

Brian William O'Leary, aged 66 and from Droitwich, was sentenced to nine years in prison at Worcester Crown Court following a week-long trial where he was found guilty of serious historic sexual offences committed against a young boy.

The offences occurred between October 1979 and June 1980, when O'Leary was employed as a social worker. At that time, his victim was residing in a care home, and O'Leary exploited his position of trust to befriend the boy under the pretext of providing help. Instead, he subjected the boy to a prolonged series of sexual assaults, including four counts of indecent assault and one count of a serious sexual offence. O'Leary had denied all charges during the trial.

Detective Inspector Andy Price from West Mercia Police described O'Leary as a 'sexual predator' who used the cover of his job to commit the crimes. 'O'Leary clearly saw an opportunity to take advantage. He was a sexual predator using the cover of his job as a social worker to commit the offences,' Price stated after the sentencing. 'He was in a position of trust which he exploited to befriend a young boy on the pretext of helping him. Instead, he subjected him to a prolonged series of sexual assaults.'

Later in his career, O'Leary worked for Wolverhampton City Council from 1991 until 2011, rising to the position of head of social services. A former colleague, Sarah Norman, the council's strategic director for community, expressed distress over the case. 'This is a distressing case and our thoughts are with the victim and their family,' she said. Norman emphasised the council's commitment to safeguarding, noting that all relevant employment checks were conducted at the time of O'Leary's appointment and throughout his tenure, with no concerns raised about his conduct during that period. Had any issues been identified, they would have been rigorously investigated, she added.

The case highlights the long-term impact of historic sexual abuse by individuals in positions of authority, with the conviction bringing closure to the victim after decades. The trial was held at Worcester Crown Court, under the jurisdiction of HM Courts & Tribunals Service.