Former Equestrian Industry Figure Jailed for Historic Sexual Assault
A 77-year-old man who was well known in the equestrian industry has been jailed for four years for indecently assaulting a young woman at the yard he ran in Lancashire more than 30 years ago.
Geoffrey Green, now of Littleborough, committed the offence in the early 1990s at his premises in the Garstang area of Lancashire, where he ran a yard keeping horses. Lancashire Police said Green was, at the time, well known in the equestrian industry.
The woman reported what had happened to Lancashire Police in 2022, around three decades after the offence. Green was interviewed under caution and denied the allegations. He was charged with eight counts of rape of a female over the age of 16 and one count of indecent assault, and pleaded not guilty to all nine charges.
Following a trial at Preston Crown Court, Green was found guilty of indecent assault and not guilty of the eight rape charges. He was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
Police: Green "abused his position in the industry"
Of everything Lancashire Police said about this case, the detail the equestrian world should sit with is the one the force highlighted: the position Green held when he offended.
DC Lydia Dunn, of Lancaster Child Protection, said:
"Green's victim was a young woman at the time of the offences, and Green abused his position in the industry to intimidate her."
DC Dunn described the woman as "incredibly brave" for coming forward all these years later, and said she has had to live with Green's actions for more than thirty years. "I hope the victim can now begin to move forward knowing that he has been brought to justice," she said.
Across the industry, yards, training establishments and other equestrian workplaces regularly place young people and young adults in close working relationships with trainers, employers, yard owners and other established figures, people who can shape where a rider keeps a horse, who gets a reference and whose career gets a start. Where a relationship carries that kind of authority, influence or control, the responsibility attached to it sits with the person who holds the power, and it cannot be overlooked.
Historic sexual offences can still be reported
Lancashire Police also used the case to make clear that the passage of time should not stop anyone from coming forward. DC Dunn said:
"...it doesn't matter how much time has passed, we will take any report of sexual offences incredibly seriously. If you make a report to us, we will listen to you, we will investigate appropriately and will do all we can to get you justice."
For Equitas, the message is an important one: people who experience sexual misconduct within the equestrian industry deserve to be heard, regardless of when that experience occurred.
Time does not erase what happened. Positions of status, authority or influence within our industry should never be allowed to become a shield from accountability.
Where to turn
If you have experienced sexual violence or abuse, support is available. You do not have to make a police report in order to seek specialist support.
- To report to the police in the UK, call 101, or 999 if you are in immediate danger. In Ireland, call 999 or 112 in an emergency, or contact your local Garda station.
- EQUISS, the equestrian safeguarding service, offers free, confidential support to equestrians across the UK and Ireland who have experienced harm, abuse or violence in an equestrian setting, on 08000 308 800 (8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday) or by email at helpcentre@equiss.org.uk. EQUISS is Equitas's Safeguarding Partner for the UK and Ireland.
