Brandon Ormond convinced a missing teenager he was a ‘good person’ before taking her to a secluded area and sexually abusing her
Brandon Ormond, of Ripon Road in Wallasey, Wirral, aged 29(Image: Merseyside Police)
A mum has branded her daughter’s abuser a “disgusting animal” after her preyed upon the missing teenager. Brandon Ormond convinced his 15-year-old victim that he was a “good person” after approaching her in the street and handing her religious literature.
But he then whisked the vulnerable teen, who was only wearing slippers on her feet, away to a secluded area near to a beach and sexually abused her. Having then abandoned her once more in the early hours, she was ultimately discovered by police in distress near to a Morrisons supermarket.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this week that the teenager went missing from home with only slippers on her feet and wearing no coat before travelling to New Brighton, Wirral, by bus, arriving in the area at around 10.30pm. She was then located by police at around 6am the following day, at which stage she “became visibly upset” and disclosed to officers that she had been subjected to a sexual assault.
Frances Wilmott, prosecuting, described how the girl went on detail how Ormond, of Ripon Road in Wallasey, had approached her and began talking to her. Despite having been “initially wary” of him, the 29-year-old went on to “tell her that he was a Christian and gave her a religious leaflet”, which “made her think he was a good person”.
The two thereafter sat on a bench, where the defendant asked if he could put his arm around her while “saying it was cold”. Ormond subsequently suggested that they move to an underpass near to the beach as it “would be warmer”, then began kissing the schoolgirl in this location in spite of being told of her young age.
Having subsequently “asked if she wanted to have sex”, he pulled down his trousers and performed a sexual act upon her and “told her he thought she was fit” before being disturbed by a barking dog.
Ormond then left the girl and returned home at around 3.30am, leaving her to walk to the nearby Morrisons store alone before being found by police at daybreak. Having been identified and arrested, he told detectives that he believed the complainant was homeless and aged 18.
When his phone was analysed, it was found to contain a number of pictures of “partially dressed young girls in sexualised poses”. These photographs did not result in criminal charges however, as they were not deemed to be indecent images by law.
In a statement which was read to the court on her behalf, the victim said: “Ever since that night, I haven’t stopped thinking about what happened and if there was anything I could have done to stop it from happening. I can’t stop thinking about it. The flashbacks are always there. I just froze.
“I wish he had helped me instead, but he did that to me. I will always replay it in my head. I thought he was going to help me, but now I can’t trust people any more. I feel numb and empty.
“I’m fighting for a life I don’t want. I wake up and think, why did I wake up? Why can’t I just be taken in my sleep? I don’t feel safe, but I feel guilty and blame myself for what happened.”
The girl’s mum meanwhile added: “My daughter was a young, vulnerable and immature 15-year-old at the time she was abused. The fact that a young teenager was out at night in the early hours of the morning with slippers and no coat highlights her vulnerability.
“Anyone with any decency would have called the police or taken her to a police station, not abused her in the worst way possible. The fact that he took her somewhere out of sight highlights his intention.
“Seeing my daughter at the police station following the offence, I could see she didn’t initially understand the enormity of what that disgusting man had taken from her. He had violated her and took away her innocence.
“I fully believe if it hadn’t been my daughter that night, it would have been someone else that night or soon afterwards. His depraved actions may have only taken a short period of time, however, the far reaching impact is ingrained in my daughter’s mind and my own mind forever. That animal needs to understand the far reaching consequences of his depraved and animalistic tendencies.”
Ormond has no previous convictions. Martine Snowdon, defending, told the court: “There are references from a number of people who speak well of him. He has read to me a short letter which he wanted to write to your honour, reinforcing his remorse and recognising the impact.
“He had difficult circumstances in his upbringing. A single mother brought him up. He had a relationship with his father, although he died a few years ago. He fell out of education. He is motivated to work in a positive way and hopes to be a better person. He has got support with that and a willingness to do that.”
Ormond admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a navy blue Regatta fleece and with a crucifix on show around his neck, he was jailed for 38 months on Wednesday.
Sentencing, Judge David Swinnerton said: “You were 29 when you sexually abused [victim’s name], who was 15 years of age, although that was not the sum total of her vulnerabilities. You have no previous convictions, and that is something that I will take into account in your favour.
“She ran away from home. She travelled to New Brighton, where, in what must have been the early hours of the morning, you came across her alone. I do not know how much time you spent with her, but you left her alone at 3.30 in the morning.
“It must have been obvious to you quite quickly that she was young, and she told you that she was 15. It must have been obvious to you that she was vulnerable from the fact that it was cold, she was wearing slippers, no shoes and had no coat on.
“She was somebody who needed your help. It should have been obvious to you that she had other difficulties. Yet, despite that, rather than taking her to a police station or calling the police, you invited her to come down an underpass onto the beach, where you sat with her.
“From that moment, you were preying on her vulnerability. You need to be aware of the impact that you have had. Her life, her self esteem, her self confidence, her ability to cope with the world and others, all of this has been compromised by what you did to her.
“You were under the influence of alcohol. You have sought help while in custody. I think you say that you had something like six cans before you committed these offences. I take into account that you show some remorse.
“You yourself come from a background which was, in some ways, difficult. I am satisfied that you do show an interest sexually in young girls.”
Ormond was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. He will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.