Pensioner jailed for historic sexual offences at Garstang equestrian yard
Geoffrey Green sentenced as victim finally sees justice after 30 years
A man has been jailed for historic sexual offences committed at his equestrian yard in Garstang during the early 1990s.
Geoffrey Green, now 77, was a prominent figure in the equestrian industry at the time. He committed sexual assault against a young woman at his horse-keeping premises.
The victim bravely reported the offences to Lancaster Police in 2022, decades after the incidents occurred. Following this report, Green was interviewed under caution, during which he denied the allegations.
He was subsequently charged with eight counts of rape of a female over the age of 16 and one count of indecent assault.
Though Green pleaded not guilty to all charges at Preston Crown Court, he was found guilty of indecent assault, although acquitted of the rape charges.
Sentenced to four years in prison, Green was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.
DC Lydia Dunn, of Lancaster Child Protection, praised the victim's resilience: “Green’s victim was a young woman at the time of the offences, and Green abused his position in the industry to intimidate her. The victim has been incredibly brave coming forward all these years later. She has had to live with Green’s actions for more than thirty years. I hope the victim can now begin to move forward knowing that he has been brought to justice."
Highlighting the commitment to pursuing justice irrespective of the passage of time, DC Dunn encouraged victims of historical sexual offences to come forward: “It doesn’t matter how much time has passed, we will take any report of sexual offences incredibly seriously. If you make a report to us, we will listen to you, we will investigate appropriately and will do all we can to get you justice."