Convicted child abuser dies in HMP Ashfield prison aged 82
Brian Gillard was jailed in 2018 after carrying out a campaign of sexual abuse against a girl over a 15 year period
Last updated 7th Jan 2026
A pensioner who repeatedly abused two young children has died in jail aged 82.
Brian Gillard was jailed in 2018 after carrying out a campaign of sexual abuse against a girl over a 15 year period.
The victim was four years old when this started. He also physically abused a young boy on a number of occasions during this period.
In August 2018, Gillard was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with a 1 year extended licence period at Basildon Crown Court.
That was increased in October 2018 to 18 years and 6 months imprisonment with a 1 year extended licence period after the then Solicitor General Robert Buckland referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal for being too low.
Commenting on the sentence increase, the Solicitor General said at the time: “Gillard carried out a campaign of abuse against two children over many years. I am pleased that the Court of Appeal has agreed to increase Gillard’s sentence, and hope the victims can begin to move on from what would have been a hugely traumatic experience.”
His death on December 19 2025 at HMP Ashfield is being investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
Brian Gillard raped the girl multiple on occasions and indecently assaulted her during the 1970s and 1980s in Basildon.
His victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was under 18 at the time.
Gillard, who later moved to St Austell, Cornwall, also physically and mentally abused a boy over the course of ten years in the 1970s and 1980s.
The offences were only reported to Essex Police in 2017 and Gillard initially denied the charges against him.
But on the first day of his trial at Basildon Crown Court on July 9, he pleaded guilty to cruelty to a child or young person, indecent assault on a girl under 16 and one count of rape of a girl under 16 on multiple occasions.
Investigating officer detective constable Tiffany Jennings after sentencing: “I would like to thank the victims for their strength and bravery in coming forward and reporting their abuse to us.
“Brian Gillard committed vile offences against the most vulnerable of all victims.
“I hope that their courage will give other victims of abuse the confidence to come forward as it is never too late to report abuse, no matter how long ago it took place.”