Wigan child sex abuser starts 14-year prison term

Bolton Crown Court heard Keith Pilkington appeared to lead a perfectly normal life.

But he is now paying a heavy price for his deviant ways after a jury found him guilty of four sexual offences involving a schoolgirl, including assault by penetration and rape.

Sentencing the 44-year-old, Judge Graeme Smith said: “As we sadly often see in these courts and courts across the land, behind that facade was a dark secret and that was that you were abusing [the girl] over a lengthy period of time.

“We have heard she was ashamed, embarrassed and scared of what was happening and therefore she told no-one, not even her mother, until a disclosure made by her sister.”

The court heard the girl would probably never have revealed what happened, but decided to come forward after her sister made similar allegations towards Pilkington in 2015.

He was acquitted by a jury of charges relating to the sister.

But he was found guilty of the rape of a child aged 11 to 14, two counts of sexual assault of a child by penetration, and sexual assault.

The offences happened between 2007 and 2011.

The court heard the girl woke up in the night when she was 11 years old to find Pilkington sexually assaulting her.

It continued on a regular basis, even when she started to share a bedroom with siblings.

On one occasion, Pilkington got into bed naked with the girl and raped her.

Amanda Johnson, prosecuting, said: “She was in bed at night. She heard the sound of a condom wrapper being opened, which she realised later because she didn’t know what it was at the time.”

The girl managed to push Pilkington off her and he left.

Miss Johnson said the abuse continued until the girl was 15 or 16 and she did not tell anyone what had happened for several years.

She later confided in her best friend and her boyfriend, before reporting what had happened to police after her sister’s allegations.

Pilkington, of Barnsley Street, Springfield, denied any inappropriate touching when questioned by police.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the girl said she was too young to know what was happening at the time, but knew it was wrong.

She told friends at school that she hated Pilkington, though could not explain why, and she felt ashamed.

As an adult, she has had difficulty with intimate relationships, feels upset about what happened and has memories and flashbacks.

“She also feels guilty about not making disclosures earlier because of what her sister alleged,” Miss Johnson said.

In mitigation, Colin Buckle, defending, said Pilkington was a man of previous good character.

He said: “There is a better side to his character. Your Honour knows that he has an excellent work record. He has been a constructive member of society for a long period.”

He said Pilkington has a 10-year-old son and described being separated from him as “an unmitigated disaster”.

Mr Buckle read a letter written by Pilkington’s sister Hilary, who urged Judge Smith to consider the impact a lengthy custodial sentence would have on their family, particularly his son.

She said the boy has autism and severe ADHD, was extremely close to his father and relied heavily on him.

He was “heartbroken” when he was told what had happened, experienced an “emotional breakdown” and broke a lamp.

The family was concerned about the impact of Pilkington’s incarceration on his son, as well as the effect on his own mother, who fears she will not be alive when he is released from custody.

Pilkington took a suitcase into the dock when he arrived in court and Mr Buckle said he knew he would be going to prison for a “significant period”.

He said: “He is going to feel this sentence more keenly than many others. This is a disaster for him.

“I must accept that he brought it upon himself.”

Judge Smith imposed a 14-year prison sentence for one count of sexual assault by penetration, with concurrent sentences of seven years for rape, four years for the second count of sexual assault by penetration and two years for sexual assault.

He also handed down a sexual harm prevention order and restraining order, both of which will run indefinitely, and Pilkington must comply with notification requirements.

Judge Smith said the impact of Pilkington’s crimes was “devastating”, particularly for the victim, and there had been a wider impact on his own family, who continue to support him while respecting the verdict of the jury.