October 2014

‘Despicable’ Innsworth pensioner jailed for sex abuse over half a century

AN Innsworth pensioner who sexually abused three girls over the past half a century was described as ‘despicable’ by a judge who jailed him for five and a half years.

In 1993, Anthony Wilson, of Chaffinch Close, Innsworth, received a probation order for molesting an eight-year-old girl.

This week it emerged that many years before that offence, Wilson had abused a girl regularly over a four year period between 1968 and 1972 when she was aged 11 and 15.

And then he struck again last year, singling out a seven year old girl for 12 months for similar abuse.

 

Wilson pleaded guilty to four indecent assaults on the victim in the late 60s and early 70s. He also admitted the recent sexual assault on a girl under 13 between January to December 2013.

Jailing him for two years for the historic offences and three and a half years consecutively for the recent ones Judge Jamie Tabor QC told him: “The picture that has emerged today is a very grim one indeed.

“You have forced yourself on three girls during the last forty-odd years.

“In 1994 you pleaded guilty to assaulting one of them and you were sentenced to a period of probation. As I understand it you were prepared then to admit then that you had been abusing the girl in the 60s and 70s.”

That victim had not wanted the prosecution to proceed in her case at that time – but had changed her mind in the light of Wilson’s most recent offences.

Judge Tabor added: “Last year you decided to put your unwanted attentions on another little girl and you abused her terribly over a considerable period of time. Your behaviour has been despicable.”

As well as the jail term the judge imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order on Wilson, telling him he would not be allowed to be in the company of children in future unless a parent agreed and knew of his record. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Stephen Parker, defending, said: “He cannot come to terms with his offending behaviour. He has indicated he wishes to explore the reasons for his offending so he can get help not to offend in the future.”