85-year-old on trial for sexually abusing teenage boy

Monday 31 October 2016

The trial began today of an 85 year-old retired farmer for allegedly sexually abusing a boy under 16.

Bryan John Le Brocq appeared in the Royal Court this morning charged with eight counts of sexual assault on the alleged victim, who was 13 when its claimed the abuse started. The defendant denies all the charges.

The Court heard how the man, who is now 30 years-old, met Mr Le Brocq at a time when his parents were splitting up.

Screened off from the defendant, the alleged victim told the jury the abuse started in early 2000.

"I was sitting in the kitchen next to Mr Le Brocq. He started stroking my leg like he had done in the car previously, his hand was a bit higher.

"I blame myself but I know it's not my fault now. I was a child. He rubbed my groin area."

When Crown Advocate David Steenson asked him how he reacted, he replied: "I didn't. I let it happen."

When asked why he didn't stop him and kept going back to Mr Le Brocq's farm, he said: "I felt shocked. I felt trapped. I felt vulnerable but I also felt I had nowhere else to go, that no one cared about me.

"Me and my brother are like chalk and cheese and my mum and dad were going through a relationship break-up. I didn't really have any friends at school or out of school.

"Bryan was the only real support I had during that time."

He went on to tell the court that Mr Le Brocq told him not to tell anyone as they'd both get into trouble and that he continued to sexually assault him on a weekly or fortnightly basis after that.

He said: "I was ashamed. I felt concerned. I had got myself into something I couldn't back out of. From that moment onwards I felt physically trapped by Bryan, like he had a hold over me. I'd never had any sexual relationships before."

When asked why he allowed it to happen, he said: "I honestly don't know why I allowed any of it to happen.

"I felt trapped. I felt it was something I had to do. I couldn't talk to anyone about it. I felt ashamed. I felt disgusted. I felt it was something I had to do to live."

"It's kind of like, Bryan was like a father figure to me. I did respect him, I did care about him a lot but when I look back now I don't know why I had those feelings. It's like I was trapped and I was responsible for him. I didn't know any different."

The trial continues.