December 2022

County Durham father and son jailed for carrying out horrific sexual abuse of same child

A County Durham father and son have been jailed for carrying out the horrific sexual abuse and rape of the same child.

Michael Dent, 37, and Jack Dent-Bradley, 19, separately sexually abused a vulnerable child, with Dent-Bradley carrying out his offences when he was a child himself.

The pair’s abuse left the victim battling PTSD in later life as well as depression.

Both men appeared at Durham Crown Court on Monday to be sentenced for their crimes after being convicted following a trial.

Michael Dent was sentenced for rape of a child, with Dent-Bradley being sentenced for charges relating to the sexual assault of a child.

Dent-Bradley carried out his offences when he was between the ages of 10 and 14-years-old, the court heard.

The court was told the father and son, both of Witton Gilbert, County Durham, carried out sexual offences against the same child, but separately.

Liam O’Brien, prosecuting, said: “Each [defendant] took advantage by abusing [the child] sexually, albeit separately from one another.”

Sentencing the pair, Judge James Adkin handed Michael Dent an extended prison sentence of 14 years, 13 of which will be custodial.

An indefinite restraining order and indefinite sexual harm prevention order were also imposed and he will be on the sex offender’s register indefinitely.

Sentencing Dent-Bradley, Judge Adkin said his offences were “extremely cruel, persistent and damaging”, and jailed him for 66 months.

He was also made subject of an indefinite restraining order and indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

He will be on the sex offender’s register indefinitely.