ALAN ARMSTRONG SENTENCED FOR ABUSE IN RIBBLETON AND SOUTHPORT

In December 2014, a 71-year-old man named Alan Armstrong was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of multiple counts of indecent assault against a young girl during the 1980s and 1990s. The offences took place while Armstrong was residing at his mother’s home on Acregate Lane in Ribbleton, Preston, and also involved abuse occurring in Southport, where he lived on Ribble Avenue.

The victim, who is now in her 30s, bravely came forward to police to recount her traumatic experiences. She revealed that she was subjected to abuse by a man named Tommy Rushton, a married grandfather who was trusted by her mother to escort her to school starting at the age of seven. Rushton would assault her either in his home or inside his car, often giving her money afterward as a form of manipulation or coercion. The victim also disclosed that Rushton later took her to Armstrong’s residence in Southport, where similar abuse occurred. Armstrong, who was in his 50s at the time, would assault her in a comparable manner and repeatedly told her “not to tell anyone.”

It was confirmed that Rushton has since passed away, which complicated efforts to bring him to justice. During the trial at Preston Crown Court, Armstrong denied the allegations, asserting that he had engaged in sexual activity with the girl but only on two occasions when she was 16 years old. He claimed that he provided her with money and described their encounters as a “commercial arrangement.” However, the jury did not accept his version of events, and he was convicted on 12 counts of indecent assault.

Detective Constable Warren Gibson of Lancashire Police, who led the investigation, praised the victim’s courage in coming forward after decades of silence. He stated, “The victim has had to live with this abuse for 30 years, during which her life has suffered. There is no doubt whatsoever the abuse she endured has played a significant part in her life as she fought to forget what happened all those years ago.”

The victim initially made contact with authorities in 2011 to report her abuse, but due to health issues, the case was not pursued until 2013, when she found the strength to confront her past and fully cooperate with police. Armstrong’s sentencing is scheduled for December 1, marking a significant step in addressing historical abuse cases in the region.