Jack Dent-Bradley

Jack Dent-Bradley, 19, from Witton Gilbert, County Durham, was sentenced to 66 months imprisonment at Durham Crown Court for sexual assault of a child. The offences occurred when Dent-Bradley was himself a child, between the ages of 10 and 14, targeting a vulnerable victim in acts separate from but related to those committed by his father, Michael Dent. Following a trial, Dent-Bradley was convicted of the charges.

Durham Crown Court was told of the 'extremely cruel, persistent and damaging' nature of the abuse, as described by Judge James Adkin during sentencing. The victim suffered lasting effects, including PTSD and depression, highlighting the severe impact of intra-familial child sexual abuse.

The case was investigated by Durham Police, revealing the separate but connected abuses by father and son against the same child. Dent-Bradley's custodial sentence of five years and six months aims to address the gravity of his actions and support rehabilitation while protecting society.

This prosecution emphasises the accountability for child offenders in sexual abuse cases, ensuring justice for victims regardless of the perpetrator's age at the time of the offence.