A serial rapist and child sex offender has been jailed for 18 years after a court heard of the devastating effect his crimes had had on his victims.
Gene Wright, 40, repeatedly raped a woman and sexually assaulted four children in separate incidents over a period of about 15 years, York Crown Court heard.
The rapes occurred when Wright, from York, was an adult. Most of the sexual offences against female children happened when he himself was a child or teenager.
Wright, of Carleton Street, Holgate, was convicted of two counts of rape and five counts of sexual or indecent assault against children following a trial in October. All the offences occurred in York.
Prosecutor Anne Richardson said that Wright’s sexual offending started when he was aged between 11 and 12 when he sexually assaulted a younger child in the 1990s.
He was around the same age when he sexually assaulted another younger child at a property in the York area.
Four years later, when he was 15 or 16 years of age, there were two more sexual assaults on younger female children.
About nine years later, he repeatedly raped a woman and went on to sexually assault another very-young girl.
The offences first came to light in 2019, when one of the victims disclosed the abuse she had suffered at the hands of Wright to staff from CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), who were supporting her.
He was brought in for questioning but denied all allegations.
Enquiries continued and further victims were identified, who also bravely gave their accounts to investigating officers.
Despite being interviewed twice more, Wright repeatedly denied the allegations and accused the victims of lying but officers saw through him.
The 40-year-old was charged and found guilty of all seven offences earlier this year.
‘He ruined my childhood’
Wright appeared for sentence at York Crown Court today (Monday) after being remanded in custody.
Prosecuting barrister Ms Richardson read out impact statements from the deeply traumatised victims, one of whom said had struggled with depression and forming relationships due to Wright’s heinous acts.
“He has ruined my childhood,” she added. “My innocence was taken away from me. I feel like my life is shattered.”
Another victim explained how she feels she missed out on a proper childhood and how the abuse has affected her understanding of what a loving relationship should be.
A third victim told of how she’d undergone counselling “to try and come to terms with the trauma caused by (Wright’s) horrific actions”.
Another ictim described how she has suffered regular and debilitating panic attacks after seeing Wright in a public place in recent years and now has to take medication to manage them.
“I don’t think I fully realised at the time the impact of what he did to me, as the whole thing was swept under the carpet and I was so young,” she said.
None of the victims can be named for legal reasons.
Defence barrister Nicholas Hammond said that Wright had previous convictions including for violence, but nothing of a sexual nature.
He said that before being remanded in custody, Wright had been living with, and caring for, his elderly father.
Judge Simon Hickey jailed Wright for 18 years and made him subject to a sexual-harm prevention order for the protection of children.
No remorse
Detective Constable Sarah Scott of North Yorkshire Police’s Safeguarding Investigation Team in York, led the investigation.
She said: “First and foremost, I want to recognise the immense courage of the victims in this case who were forced to give evidence twice.
“This process was particularly traumatic for them and without their strength, bravery, and determination in supporting the investigation Wright may not be behind bars today, where he belongs.
“I am pleased that Wright has finally been brought to justice for these horrific offences. He raped the woman and stole the girls’ childhoods while continuing to live his own life without consequence.
“Throughout the investigation and trial, Wright denied every offence and accused all five victims of lying. He even singled out one victim, attempting to blame her and claiming she had orchestrated a conspiracy against him.
“Wright has demonstrated no remorse whatsoever. At one point during the trial, he appeared in court seemingly under the influence of alcohol, which resulted in his bail being revoked.
“All five victims continue to suffer lasting effects from his crimes. My hope is that today’s sentence gives survivors of abuse the courage to come forward. I want them to feel reassured that, no matter how much time has passed, we will listen, and we will act.”
