March 2019

Perverted man abused same girl as his brother – then sexually attacked her son

A man who sexually abused the same girl as his brother more than 40 years ago has been jailed for six months.

Gordon Bassett, 61, may have been “emboldened” by watching his older brother Stephen sexually assaulting the same victim, before he took her on a boat and indecently assaulted her, Hull Crown Court heard.

Gordon Bassett was a teenager at the time of the offence but later showed “contempt” for his victim by sexually assaulting her son.

Both brothers denied any wrongdoing but were convicted by a jury after a trial at the same court in January. Stephen Bassett, 62, a former Goole taxi firm boss, went onto repeatedly rape another girl and was jailed for 15 years after being convicted of 14 child sex offences.

Following his conviction, Gordon Bassett, of Hopewell Road, east Hull, then made “tentative admissions” in a pre-sentence report, which Claire Holmes, mitigating, said showed some remorse.

But he was was heavily criticised by Judge David Tremberg, who called his admissions “rather hollow” as he had forced his victim through a trial.

Sentencing Gordon Bassett at the same court on Friday, the judge said: “You have demonstrated a propensity towards an interest in sexual activity with children, not only by virtue of [your conviction on] count 16, but by virtue of the fact you then went on to have such contempt for the victim on this indictment that you committed sexual offences against her son.

“The level of indifference that you have for the complainant and her feelings can perhaps be seen from the fact you while make some tentative admissions during the course of your pre-sentence report you were content to plead not guilty, give evidence, and deny the offence against you, and have her portrayed as a fantasist and a liar.”

The judge called the impact on the victim “serious and substantial”.

“What you did to her left her feeling dirty and ashamed and guilty. Her evidence was given over 40 years later and demonstrated she was still deeply affected by her experience.

“I accept that not all of that lies at your door because you were only one part of the abuse upon her.”

Gordon Bassett continued to be affected by a “significant” injury he suffered while serving in the armed forces, the court heard.

January 2019

Perverted evil brothers abused same girl in series of sickening sex attacks

Two perverted brothers have been found guilty of sexually abusing the same girl more than 40 years ago.

Stephen Bassett, 62, and Gordon Bassett, 61, denied any wrongdoing but were convicted by a jury of indecently assaulting the victim when she was aged between 12 and 13 in the 1970s.

Former Goole taxi firm boss Stephen Bassett was also convicted of three counts of rape against another girl after the same eight-day trial at Hull Crown Court.

They were among 13 child sex offences against that victim that Bassett was convicted of after a decade of abuse beginning in the early 1980s. They included him driving her to an isolated location to assault her in a taxi.

Stephen Bassett has now been jailed for 15 years after the jury who convicted him heard his rape victim read her personal statement to the court, describing the devastating impact the abuse had on her, and how it would continue to affect the rest of her life.

The jury listened attentively as she spoke calmly and eloquently, though clearly distressed, from behind a screen, with some turning to stare at Bassett, who sat in the dock with his head bowed. He showed no emotion then or when the verdicts were returned.

She told the court: “At the time Stephen Bassett abused me I remember just retreating into myself. He would tell me if anyone found out I would be in serious trouble, and I used to feel people would know I was being sexually abused just by looking at me.

“I still don’t have many friends and don’t show my emotions. I also feel tainted by the abuse as if I’m not good enough. I feel that the abuse I suffered has caused me to be isolated.

“It’s been a difficult three and a half years since I reported him to the police, and it’s been hard to deal with the length of time it’s taken to get to court.

“I would like to address this directly to Stephen Bassett: you should be in no doubt that what you did to me has affected me for the rest of my life and you should be ashamed. I don’t feel any prison sentence you are subject to would be enough.

“You robbed me of my childhood and because of what you did to me I didn’t do what normal children did. I just have to make the best of my life. I now have to look to the future and try to deal with the emotions and tears that will come.

“I’m looking forward to the therapy I can now have, which has been delayed as a result of this case.”

The brothers grew up in Hedon, with Stephen Bassett later living in Withernsea and Goole.

Stephen Bassett, of Highfield Green, Allerton Bywater, Castelford, was convicted of three counts of rape, indecency with a child, and ten indecent assaults. He was found not guilty of a further indecent assault against the rape victim.

Gordon Bassett, of Hopewell Road, east Hull, was convicted of one indecent assault. He was released on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report and is due to be sentenced at the same court on March 8.

‘You caused your victim serious harm’
Jailing Stephen Bassett, Judge David Tremberg told him: “You have demonstrated a propensity towards and an interest in sexual activity with children. This is evidenced by the verdicts of your catalogue of offending against the two complainants.”

Referring to his offence against his first victim, the judge said: “Having heard the evidence and observed the complainant, it is clear to the court that this is not one of those cases in which there is a scintilla of evidence to suggest your victim did anything to encourage you in any way, or that she was willing to engage in this activity.

“You caused her serious and substantial emotional harm.”

Of his rape victim, Judge Tremberg told Bassett: “It is no exaggeration to describe the emotional harm you have cause this victim as being grave, deep-seated and enduring. There were threats of grave consequences if she spoke up.

“She bore the burden of your abuse for decades until she could bear that burden no more and came forward. It is to be hoped now this case is over she will be able to achieve some sort of closure, perhaps with the assistance of counselling and therapy.”

Stephen Bassett will be on the sex offenders register for life.