May 2012

Child sex pest escapes prison

arthur wilson

A PUB landlord has escaped jail after being convicted of sexually assaulting a Tameside child 25 years ago.

Landlord of The Grouse Pub, Chunal, Arthur Wilson, aged 47, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to four counts of indecently touching a child, at Minshull Street Crown Court.

Due to statutory limitations, he only received a six month suspended sentence, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work, pay £400 costs and has to sign the sex offenders’ register.

Judge Foster also decided not to impose an order banning Wilson from working with children

Wilson’s victim, a woman from Tameside, decided to go to the police after Wilson threatened to take her husband to court for slander.

Wilson committed the offences when the child was aged under 16 years old

He abused the girl during a period between 1985 and 1986.

Wilson used a fruit and veg delivery round as a way of spending time with his victim.

Nichola Gatto, defending, said the conviction could result in Wilson losing his home and his job.

Sentencing Wilson, Judge Jonathan Foster QC, said: “It is said by this counsel the conviction will have an effect on your life.

“I have been given a victim statement which shows the affect to the victim’s life.”

A victim impact statement, read by Judge Foster to the court, said: “To this day I still have a distorted view of what a loving sexual relationship is.”

It added Wilson’s actions had affected the woman’s relationship with her family and left her depressed and anxious.

Speaking after the conviction, the victim’s husband said the sentence ended a ‘constant headache for 18 months’ since proceedings began.

He added: “My wife feels very disappointed with the sentence, but understands the police and the barristers are working within the constraints of the law.

“I’d like to say how supportive the police have been to my wife and I. Through all of this the officer has been wonderful. The barrister sat down with us and explained the technicalities and my wife feels a lot better.