Former foster carer, Bradley Dilsworth jailed for 31 years for abusing young girls
A former foster carer has been jailed for 31 years after abusing girls as young as seven-years-old.
Bradley Dilsworth, 69, used his position of trust in the community to invite children to his home after school to smoke and drink alcohol. He then abused and raped five girls aged between seven and 16 at his home in Walthamstow, north east London.
Dilsworth was convicted of 22 child sexual offences committed between 2002 and 2010, and was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, June 26.
Internal CCTV footage from the property evidenced offending over a number of years, and it is believed further victims may not yet have come forward. The Metropolitan Police is appealing for any other survivors to come forward and detectives are particularly keen to hear from women who went to school in Walthamstow, or recognise Dilsworth from his days as a foster carer, lorry driver or builder.
For survivors, the impact does not end when the abuse stops. The victims’ bravery in coming forward has enabled justice to be served, even though ongoing investigations can compound trauma and create significant barriers to rebuilding their lives.
The prosecution of Dilsworth is a reminder that survivors may also have legal options available to them. Depending on the circumstances, individuals may be able to report offences to police leading to criminal proceedings against their abuser, and ultimately pursue civil claims where organisations failed to protect them from abuse.
At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we act for survivors of abuse and understand the complex legal and personal issues these cases present. If you have been affected by child sexual exploitation or believe you were wrongly treated as an offender because of abuse you suffered, our specialist team can provide confidential advice about your legal options.
