Oldham man who abused boys in his garage jailed for 10 years

Minshull Street Crown Court

A man from Oldham who sexually abused four boys in the 1980s has been jailed for a decade.

Damien Riley, 55, was jailed on Friday at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court and ordered to serve 10 years.

He was found guilty of 14 offences he committed as a teenager against victims aged as young as five over a period of six years.

After a two-week trial at The Lowry Nightingale Court in Salford, Riley was convicted of indecent assaults and gross indecency.

The court heard how Riley, from the Ewood area, abused the boys separately, on all but one occasion, at his garage on Burlington Avenue where he lived at the time.

Police were not aware of Riley's offending until one of the victims made a report in August 2018 and an investigation was launched by detectives in Oldham CID.

On interview, Riley denied any wrongdoing and continued to deny the offences after being charged a year later, accusing his victims of conspiring to construct a series of lies to have him convicted.

The jury came back with 13 guilty indecent assault verdicts and one count of gross indecency on Friday 18 June, and Riley was sent to prison for 10 years and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

The victims - aged five, seven, eight and nine when the offending started - have been supported throughout operation by specialist officers and partner agencies.

Detective Constable Vicki Tait, of GMP Oldham's CID, said: "The experiences these men went through as children were harrowing and have left lifelong mental and emotional scars for each of them, but to have the courage and bravery to relive that abuse again in court nearly four decades later is of real testament to each of them.

"Riley's crimes were committed many years ago, but that does not mitigate or diminish the severity of the offences or the impact that it had on his victims.

"It is satisfying that regardless of the time passed, we are able to ensure we have a compelling enough case to bring Riley to court and make him accountable for the manipulative and predatory actions he inflicted on these men when they were so young and vulnerable.

"I urge anyone who is a survivor of non-recent sexual abuse to report it to police so that we can ensure those reports are fully investigated with a view to continue to bring offenders to justice."

Anyone affected by this case can contact police online, if able, via www.gmp.police.uk or call 101. Details can also to be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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