Man admits raping and abusing girl

Man admits raping and abusing girl

20 February 2019

A NEWCASTLE man has admitted raping and sexual abusing a young girl.

Fifty-nine year-old Gary Talbot pleaded guilty to the offences at Downpatrick Crown Court yesterday.

Standing handcuffed in the dock at Downpatrick Crown Court, Talbot admitted a total of 15 charges, including two counts of rape, two of committing an act of gross indecency with a child and two counts of indecent assault.

He also admitted six charges of taking or permitting to be taken indecent photos of a child. All offences occurred on dates unknown between January 1, 2001 and October 6, 2003.

Dressed in a grey shirt and striped tie, he also admitted three counts of distributing indecent images of a child in May 2011.

He denied one count of sexually assaulting the same victim on a date unknown between July 21, 2012 and July 21, 2014.

Also in the dock was Talbot’s 58 year-old wife, Heather, who pleaded not guilty to a total of 12 charges.

Wearing a black jacket and light blue cardigan, she denied two charges aiding and abetting her husband in the rapes.

She also denied two counts of indecently assault the girl, two counts of gross indecency and six counts relating to taking or permitting to be taken indecent photos of a child.

As the couple entered the dock, their lawyers confirmed to Judge Piers Grant that the defendants had been “fully advised over the issue of credit and fully understand the implications.”

Gary Talbot looked to his solicitor as each count was put to him. Two women in the public gallery wept quietly. It took the clerk ten minutes to put all of the charges to the defendants.

Prosecuting counsel Laura Ievers told Judge Grant that “even with the narrowed issues” given Gary Talbot’s confessions, she estimated the trial would last two weeks.

She added that the case “would benefit from a review” before any prospective trial date would be set.

Remanding the couple back into custody and ordering Gary Talbot to sign the police sex offenders register, Judge Grant said he would review the case on February 28.

No details surrounding the case were disclosed during the hearing.