William Bresnahan 80

Description

A paedophile groomed and raped a girl who was so vulnerable she was forced to eat ants to survive.

William Bresnahan targeted and exploited the neglected 11-year-old daughter of two heroin addicts. She had to go out to find work to pay for her parents' drug habits, before her dad committed suicide.

Bresnahan, now 75, befriended the abandoned girl and gave her food, money, clothing, trips and treats. The carpenter, whose wife had died, then raped her at least five times at his home in Waddicar Lane, Melling. 

Liverpool Crown Court heard she saw him giving cash to her mum, who knew she was staying at his home. However, despite the horrific abuse, she described how she had seen the pervert as her "rock and saviour". The now adult woman told police: "It was a small price to pay to be fed and clothed."

The brave victim today stared down her unrepentant attacker, as he learned he will likely die in prison. John Wyn Williams, prosecuting, said Bresnahan specifically targeted an "extremely vulnerable" child. He said: "Your honour will recall the evidence of how she had to eat ants to feed herself and find menial work just to survive." 
 
During a trial, a jury heard she would sell flowers at a cemetery and find shopping trolleys to get the pound from them. The woman described how she was "starving and desperate" when she met Bresnahan, who offered her jobs and money. He gave the deprived girl food and clothes, let her stay at his home and took her out to a farm and the seaside.

But she recalled he instructed her to tell anyone that asked he was her uncle, before the vile abuse began. Eventually genuine relatives told him to stop seeing her, but she did not feel able to report what happened until 2017.

Bresnahan claimed his victim was a liar, who held a grudge against him because he broke off contact with her. The ex-labourer accepted handing cash to her mum, but offered no explanation for why he gave money to her. He was unanimously convicted by jurors of three counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault last month.

She told the court: "I'm messed in the head. This has messed up my life." The victim, who felt ashamed and embarrassed, suffered panic attacks, headaches and nightmares. She turned to alcohol, suffered from depression and experienced problems forming relationships. 
 
The woman said: "The worst thing has been everything, every day. It has destroyed me." However, she added: "I am so glad I got justice and couldn't thank the courts enough."

Louise McCloskey, defending, said Bresnahan, who has no previous convictions, still maintained his innocence. She said: "While he understands the verdict of the jury, he would not wish me to address the court in respect of the facts, because they are not accepted."

Ms McCloskey said: "This sentence will be tantamount to a life sentence for Mr Bresnahan, who is in the twilight of his years." She added: "This will inevitably be a long and difficult sentence for him, from which he may not ever be released back into the community."

William Bresnahan, 75, of Waddicar Lane, Melling, was found guilty of three counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault.  Judge Rachel Smith said the victim, who sobbed throughout the hearing, suffered severe psychological harm.

The judge said she was unsure whether the victim's mum accepted the cash knowing Bresnahan was sexually assaulting her, "turned a blind eye to the situation" when someone who was not a heroin addict would have realised what was going on, or because she was on drugs, was not aware at all. However, she said: "Your motivation in giving her money was to maintain access to her daughter in order to abuse her."

Judge Smith said Bresnahan was "an offender of particular concern" and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a restraining order for life. She jailed him for 16 years, with an extended year on licence, prompting his tearful victim to clap and cheer, while Bresnahan showed no emotion in the dock. The type of sentence means he will serve at least half of the term – eight years – behind bars, before he is eligible for parole at 83. He will then only be released before the end of the 16-year sentence - at 91 - if he is no longer considered to be a risk to the public.

As he was sent down, his victim shouted "yes, rot!" and "suffer!", while a male friend yelled: "Rat, rat, rat!"