James Richardson, an 88-year-old pensioner from Rowlands Gill in Gateshead, has been sentenced to eight years in prison at Newcastle Crown Court for a series of depraved sexual assaults on three young girls. The court heard how the offending came to light years later when one victim told a teacher.
Details of the assaults
Prosecutor Jessica Slaughter outlined the specifics of the abuse. One victim was touched under her underwear while wearing her school uniform. Another had her hand forced down Richardson's trousers to rub his penis, after which he told her to 'keep quiet'. A third victim initially did not understand why Richardson was doing these things to her but later realised it was wrong. Richardson was convicted of two offences after a trial and pleaded guilty to three others against a third victim.
Victim impact statements
The victims read powerful impact statements describing the lasting trauma. One said: 'What James did to me has made me want to kill myself. I have self harmed as I'm so angry at myself for letting it happen.' She also expressed guilt for not reporting sooner, saying: 'I felt guilty I didn't tell anyone it was happening to me so it could never happen to them.'
Another victim stated: 'It makes me feel stupid because I took so long to tell anyone what he did. I was scared nobody would believe me.' She noted the court case coincided with her GCSE exams, affecting her concentration. She added: 'A lot of my friends are starting to have boyfriends and girlfriends, but I think this is off the cards for me as I never want anyone near me like he was.' Upon learning of other victims, she felt relief but also guilt.
Sentencing and mitigation
Judge Carolyn Scott sentenced Richardson to a total of eight years and imposed an indefinite restraining order to keep him away from the victims. She said: 'I do hope the punishment I impose on you will assist them in taking away some of the trauma.'
In mitigation, Nick Lane noted Richardson had no previous convictions and had worked hard all his life. He pointed out that at 88 with poor health, Richardson would face a particularly difficult time in prison, adding: 'He has lost his good name, of course that is through his own actions, but he is somebody who until retirement led a law-abiding and productive life. He will be vulnerable in a custodial setting due to the nature of the offences and his age and his health.'
