Former Geelong mechanic, Gary Bruce, 68, sentenced for historic child abuse charges

A former Geelong mechanic who abused two girls over a three-year period has been sentenced. Now, one of his victims has opened up about her fight for justice and quest to reclaim her life.

Geelong woman, Jacinta Welch has received justice at the Geelong County Court with her abuser, a former Geelong mechanic, sentenced to prison for crimes of historic sexual abuse.

Gary Bruce, 68, was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to abusing Jacinta and her older sister Elizabeth, the two daughters of his former partner, over a three-year period.

Bruce was aged between 27 and 30 years-old and the victims between 10 to 13 at the time of the offending.

The Geelong County Court heard on one occasion Bruce forced his penis into the mouth of a then 10-year-old Jacinta before ejaculating while her mother slept just metres away.

He admitted to penetrating her on up to seven other occasions over the years some of which Jacinta had mentally blocked out due to trauma.

Jacinta Welch, aged ten.

Now free from what she has described to be a forty-year secret, Jacinta, 50, said she is relieved to see her abuser brought to justice.

“For me it has felt like I served a 40-year sentence and now he will be serving at least three (of the five-years), but any sentence he got I was going to be happy with as long as the secret was out,’ she said.

For many years Jacinta thought about telling someone but feared no one would believe her and had been left feeling confused and ashamed.

The crimes committed against the Welch sisters occurred in the late 1980s, with Jacinta and Elizabeth only coming forward in 2020, after Jacinta became aware of Bruce’s extensive involvement with Bethany Community Services and other volunteer work within primary schools.

She feared there would be more victims, although none have come forward at this stage.

Since coming forward Jacinta says she has regained her voice.

“It has been a hard but a good experience,” she said.

“I am viewing this as a new start in life, yes, I have lost the last 40 years, but I am also viewing it as the next forty years are now for me.

“I am a lot stronger within myself and I will never lose my voice again.”

Bruce pleaded guilty to multiple counts of indecent assault and sexual penetration, with the court hearing that he “wasn’t getting arousement” from their mother and “took it out on the kids.”

It was also revealed he would often indecently assault the underage girls while saying good night to them, which included putting his hands in their pyjamas.

Judge Michael Tinney said the offending was serious as was the breach of trust.

“This is not all about you, I am sentencing you for these crimes committed upon these children as they were, crimes that have had a sizeable impact,” he said.

“Elizabeth described that her childhood had changed when you came into the family’s life, it was not a change for the better that is for sure. You altered the way she feels about men and she suffers flashbacks and anxiety.

“Jacinta speaks of the profound burden and loss arising here, she wonders about the life she might have led. She will never know that life, it can’t be reclaimed.”

Judge Tinney described Bruce’s upbringing to the court as being normal and having held an extensive work history, but said the absence of an adult sexual relationship since the early 1980s was of note.

“You have been living a life without any hint or stain or blemish for all those decades while your victims have lived with and no doubt laboured under this secret,” he said.

“They have waited more than half a lifetime to be vindicated.

“You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Now moving forward with her life, Jacinta says she hopes she can give strength and hope to others.

“The justice system is not easy to go through but whatever the sentence was didn’t worry me too much, because the secret is out and justice in one way or another was served.

“Being empowered is powerful, and I think the healing process can begin now.”

Originally published as Former Geelong mechanic, Gary Bruce, 68, sentenced for historic child abuse charges