Child rapist jailed for historic sex offences in Cheltenham
Bradley Hawkins was sentenced at Preston Crown Court today (1st September)
A man has been jailed for three years after a victim, who now lives in Lancashire, came forward about the abuse she faced when she was eight years old.
Bradley Hawkins raped an eight-year-old girl in Cheltenham twice when he was between 13 and 14-years-old.
He pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to multiple offences and was sentenced today (1st September).
The victim stayed silent for years through fear, but reported the offences in 2023.
A Lancashire police spokesperson said: "Hawkins, who is a career criminal, was interviewed in prison in relation to this offending.
"Before the interview could start, he said he ‘doesn’t do these types of offences and he isn’t a nonce or a rapist’. He said that ‘all his life he has been robbing’ and that ‘no one wants this put to their name as this is scum of the earth stuff’.
"However, 26-year-old Hawkins’ name will now be associated with sexual offending after he pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court earlier this year to two rapes of a girl under 13, causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
"Hawkins, of no fixed address, returned to the same court today (1st September) where he was jailed for three years. Although he is now an adult, Hawkins was sentenced based on the age he was when he committed the offences – between 13 and 14-years-old - and the sentencing guidelines at the time."
In an impact statement to the court, the victim wrote: “Having the strength to open up about the abuse I endured as a child has been one of the hardest things I have ever done.
“I felt ashamed that this had happened to me. Before I finally managed to open up to my family and then the police, I had lived with this burden all my childhood and early adult life.”
She continued: “I struggle to put into words how these events have affected me now as an adult. I believe this is due to the behaviours I have as an adult, that I have always considered normal to me. Upon further self-reflection and evaluation, I now understand how some of my behaviours are not ‘normal’ and are in fact a result of the trauma I experienced as a child.
“To this day I dislike being touched by anyone, unless this is on my own terms. This also has effects on my personal relationship with my partner, due to the abuse suffered I have this behaviour where I have to feel validated and reassured by people I love, If I do not receive this then my mind starts to play tricks and I feel that I am either not loved or liked, realistically I know this is not the case however due to the abuse I suffered, I cannot move past how this makes me feel all the time and I hope that one day, I can heal from this and in my eyes, act normal.”