Jail for sex attacker who abused boy for 8 years

10:06pm Monday 17th March 2008

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By Peter Magill »

A MAN who sexually abused a young boy over an eight year period has been jailed for three years.

Kenneth Worsley, 63, of Whalley Road, Read, admitted four offences of indecency with a child and three charges of indecent assault at Preston Crown Court.

The court was told that from the age of eight, the victim was made to rub cream into Worsley's naked body and genitals .

Later on, as the boy grew older, the abuse escalated to Worsley performing sex acts on him, the court was told.

Only later in life did the young man, now aged 24, pluck up the courage to report the matter to police and Worsley, of Whalley Road, Read, was arrested and charged with child sex offences.

Father-of-four Worsley, now 63, was described in court as a pillar of his local community.

His barrister Stuart Hudson claimed the life of his client, who had no previous convictions, had been blighted after he 'succumbed to temptation' and carried out the abuse on the youngster.

But passing sentence Judge Beverley Lunt told Worsley: "His life has been blighted by this case - not yours.

"And you are the one who blighted it."

The judge said there was no sentence she could pass which would lessen the psychological impact the offences had had on the victim concerned.

Judge Lunt also ordered Worsley to sign the sex offenders register for life and banned him from working with children.

He will also be subject to a sexual offences prevention order, which bars him from contact from children aged under 16, in a variety of circumstances, unless an approved adult is present.

Prosecutor Kath Johnson said the abuse took place when the victim was aged eight to 16.

Worsley had asked the boy to rub cream into his body because of a dry skin complaint.

When Worsley was detained and interviewed about the abuse he denied it had taken place.

But when he was due to stand trial over the allegations on Valentine's Day, at Barrow Crown Court, he changed his pleas to guilty.

Two further indecency offences, and a separate set of charges, were ordered to life on the file by Judge Lunt.

Mr Dawson, defending, said Worsley now had cancer and a weak heartbeat and any prison sentence would have a major impact on him.

There was also no risk of him reoffending, he added.

Speaking after the case the victim, who was accompanied in court by his mother, step-father and younger brother, said until Worsley admitted his guilt, he feared he would not be believed over the abuse allegations.

"I am glad he got three years because I thought he might not get as long because of his age and his illnesses," he said.

Det Con Andy Bunting, of East Lancashire's police public protection unit, based at Accrington, paid tribute to the victim.

DC Bunting said: "He showed such courage in coming forward in the first place - he was brave enough to talk to the police about such a horrific time in his life."

He said that the court's orders should help to prevent similar abuse by Worsley in future, following his release.