Bryan Walsh, security guard of Saltrum District charged for raping teen

Kingston, Jamaica: Bryan Walsh, a 35-year-old resident of Saltrum district, was arrested and charged with raping a teen girl in Gayle at St Mary on Sunday. 

According to the police, Walsh has been apprehended with multiple charges of rape, grievous sexual assault, possession of child pornography and sexual grooming of a child. 

If sources are to be believed, it is said that the accused allegedly met the teenager on Facebook in April 2021, and they started to talk with each other. It is alleged that a girl sent her explicit pictures to Walsh. 

Noting this, he threatened her that he would release her uncensored photos if she refused to come into physical relationships with him. 

Further, as per sources, it is believed that the girl went to the security guard’s home in an effort to meet his physical demands, where he sexually assaulted her. The girl made a report to the police about the incident.

The investigating officers responded to the matter, and they arrested Walsh. He was charged after he was pointed out during an identification parade.

A court date for him is being finalised, and he is supposed to appear in the court for further decision. 

Moreover, the news has been spread to social media, and many people across the region took to their Facebook handles to express their anger and frustration regarding such crimes. 

While reacting to the news, a person named Ismay Garrigues wrote, “Lord help! This is heartbreaking news. So sad. Victim should sent behind the bars.”

Another person by the name of Charlie Simpso commented, “Hope lord give strength to minor. Rapes are terrifying. Police should keep him in the jail. Save yourself girls.”

Additionally, sexual violence in Jamaica is endemic. However, this problem has not attracted the same amount of public outrage and attention that other forms of violence have attracted.

Rape is a traumatic experience that affects the victim in a physical, psychological and sociological way. It is a severe form of sexual violence which affects all aspects of women’s quality of life, including mental and reproductive health. 

With the rising rate of such crimes, people are now asking authorities to take quicker action immediately.