ADAM COLLIER FROM COLNE AND BURNLEY SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN BURNLEY

In a case that has shocked the communities of Burnley and Colne, Adam Collier, a 27-year-old man with ties to both towns, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses. The incident that led to his conviction involved a brutal assault on a teenage girl in Burnley, which took place in a dark alleyway, and has been described by authorities as one of the most traumatic cases handled by their unit in recent years.

Collier, who previously had a conviction for molesting a pensioner, was handed an 18-year extended sentence for the attack in Burnley. The court heard that Collier targeted vulnerable victims, exploiting their circumstances for his own gratification. His criminal history includes a prior incident in Nelson, where he molested a 71-year-old woman in 2004, a case that marked the beginning of his pattern of predatory behavior.

During the sentencing hearing, a public protection inspector emphasized the severity of the case, describing it as one of the most distressing cases his team had encountered. Collier’s criminal activities spanned over a decade, with his latest offenses involving the assault of a 17-year-old girl outside the Union Exchange pub in Burnley on November 3 of the previous year. The incident occurred at approximately 2:20 a.m., after the girl was refused entry into the pub due to her age and had become separated from her friends.

Evidence presented in court included CCTV footage showing Collier engaging in a brief conversation with the girl, during which he allegedly claimed he could help her gain entry into the pub. However, when the bouncers refused, Collier was seen attempting to enter through the back door. Subsequently, he was filmed leading the girl along Skelton Street, where he forcibly dragged her into a ginnel and into a shed. It was there that he committed the rape, an act that left the victim visibly shaken and distressed.

Prosecutors detailed that Collier also coerced the girl into performing various sex acts, at one point allegedly threatening her with a knife. The victim managed to escape the alleyway shortly afterward, emerging unsteadily and immediately informing her friends about the assault. Collier was arrested shortly thereafter. During police interviews, he denied the assault, claiming that the encounter was consensual and that the girl 'liked him.'

Following his conviction, Collier was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with an additional four-year extension on license for public protection. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and to pay a victim surcharge of £120. The court’s decision was welcomed by law enforcement officials, with Detective Inspector Holgate praising the bravery of the 17-year-old victim for her courage in giving evidence twice during the trial.

He stated, “The victim has found the whole ordeal very difficult, but she has had an enormous amount of support from the police, her family and friends. When she got the verdict, it gave her real reassurance and she now feels for the first time that she is safe and she can now get on with her life.” The case underscores the importance of community vigilance and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to protect vulnerable individuals from predatory offenders like Adam Collier, whose criminal activities have left a lasting impact on the victims and the wider community of Burnley and Colne.