'Brian Greenslade was a respected and well-known public figure for many years but there was another side to his character', say CPS
“Our thoughts are with the survivors who suffered at the hands of Brian Greenslade," the message from Devon County Council after their former leader of 16 years was today found guilty of the indecent and sexual assault of three women.
Last updated 24th May 2021
Mr Greenslade, 72, who did not stand for election this month, was a former chair of the police authority and was first elected as a councillor in 1985.
He was today given a 16-month jail term for the three offences, but will be allowed to serve some of the sentence on licence after release.
The court heard the three women did not know each other and the offences happened at different times - between 15 and 25 years ago.
The judge today told Mr Greenslade, in sentencing, he had a 'dark side which you won't accept' and one victim "felt it was impossible to do anything about it" because of his position.
In one case Mr Greenslade physically grabbed a victim - which the judge said in modern standards would be dubbed 'assault by penetration', calling it an 'unwarranted and appalling intrusion'.
A spokesman for Devon County Council said:“Our thoughts are with the survivors who suffered at the hands of Brian Greenslade.
“We are pleased that our actions in 2017 in response to complaints from members of Council staff have helped to shine a light on the issue of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct in the workplace and particularly when involving those in positions of authority.
“This council has very firm and clear expectations with regards to the conduct of all its staff and elected Members including how councillors interact with the council’s employees. We will always take allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour and harassment very seriously and act swiftly.
“When allegations of this nature came to light in 2017, we acted quickly to thoroughly investigate them as part of our procedures, and the strongest possible sanctions on the former councillor were imposed. Most importantly all those staff impacted have been supported and continue to be so.”
Two offences occurred between 1994 and 1996 and one between 2005 and 2006.
A spokesperson from the Crown Prosecution Service said: "As a result of publicity following an independent disciplinary investigation conducted by Devon County Council into Mr Greenslade’s behaviour whilst serving as a Councillor and Leader of Devon County Council, the three women came forward to make independent allegations that he had assaulted them in a sexual manner.
"Two of the incidents occurred when Mr Greenslade was on Council business and the third incident occurred at his place of work, when he was employed as an accountant. The women felt that he had abused his position and despite their distress felt unable to report his behaviour at the time."
Ann Hampshire of the CPS added: "Brian Greenslade was a respected and well-known public figure for many years but there was another side to his character.
“His position of authority made him confident that his victims would not complain or, even if they had, that they would not have been believed. All three women have said that his position was a factor in their decision not to report him at the time of the offences. I would like to thank them for coming forward when they did and for supporting this prosecution”.
Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “I would like to pay tribute to Brian Greenslade’s victims, who not only came forward to give evidence in the first place but who were then put through the ordeal of a trial that could have been avoided had he admitted his vile crimes in the first place.
“It is the victims’ tenacity and faith in the police and the criminal justice system that has persuaded a jury of his guilt and perhaps prevented yet more offences. I would urge all those affected by sexual offences to seek specialist help and advice from the wide range of services available, many of which are commissioned by my office.
“I hope this conviction sends a message to both victims and offenders that complaints will be taken seriously, investigations will be carried out and convictions can be secured.”
Commissioner Hernandez is lobbying the Ministry of Justice to clear a backlog of cases caused by the pandemic.
Mr Greenslade was convicted of two counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault.