ANDREW HARKER SENTENCED IN BURNLEY AND KEIGHLEY SEX OFFENCES CASE

In September 2005, a man named Andrew Harker was sentenced to serve five years in prison after being convicted of serious sexual offences committed in Burnley and Keighley. The court proceedings revealed that Harker, who was 39 years old at the time, had been found guilty of molesting a nine-year-old girl as well as an adult woman, both of whom were victims of his alleged misconduct.

Harker, formerly residing on Ribchester Avenue in Burnley and later living on Grange Crescent in Riddlesden, Keighley, had denied all charges of sexual assault brought against him. Despite his denials, the jury at Preston Crown Court found him guilty following a trial. The case was particularly complex, as it involved a retrial; during the initial trial, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on two charges, and he was acquitted of two counts of indecent assault. However, the subsequent retrial resulted in a conviction on the charges that had previously been unresolved.

At the sentencing hearing, the presiding judge, Christopher Cornwall, ordered that Harker be registered on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. Additionally, he was prohibited from working with children indefinitely and barred from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16. The offences in question dated back to August of the previous year, when Harker was living on Ribchester Avenue. During the trial, Harker suggested that the nine-year-old girl might have fabricated the incident, claiming she could have been influenced by others talking negatively about him and persuaded that she had been sexually assaulted.

Harker maintained that he was innocent and expressed shock at the allegations. His legal representative, Mr. Tim Ashmole, highlighted that Harker had no previous convictions and emphasized the impact a custodial sentence would have on his family. Mr. Ashmole also noted that Harker felt betrayed by the legal process, stating that since the allegations, he had to relocate, find new employment, and attempt to rebuild his life. Despite these hardships, his family and friends continued to support him, believing in his innocence.

The judge acknowledged the serious harm caused to the young girl and warned that the long-term effects of Harker’s actions could be unpredictable. He also addressed Harker directly, stating, “What the consequences of your behaviour will be for her in the long term, no-one can predict.” The judge further commented that Harker’s case was complicated by claims that he was the victim of a malicious campaign, with allegations made by individuals conspiring to pervert the course of justice by knowingly making false accusations.

Despite the conviction, the court recognized that Harker had an otherwise excellent work record, was of good character, and was a dedicated father. The judge expressed understanding of the difficulties associated with imprisonment but emphasized the need for justice and protection of the community. As a result, Harker was sentenced to five years in prison, with an additional two years on extended licence, reflecting the gravity of his offences and the potential long-term impact on his victims.