ANDREW SHARMAN, THE WIBSEY SEXUAL PREDATOR, SENTENCED IN BRADFORD COURT

In October 2013, a disturbing case unfolded in Bradford involving Andrew Sharman, a man with a long history of sexual offenses, who was ultimately convicted and sentenced for assaulting a young woman. The incident took place in Wibsey, where Sharman, aged 54, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s on July 14, 2011.

According to court proceedings, Sharman had previously been convicted of serious sexual crimes, including indecent assault on a 12-year-old girl, two counts of rape, and four counts of indecent assault. His criminal record spanned over three decades, with convictions dating back to 1976, when he was convicted at Bradford Youth Court for indecently assaulting a young man and woman after chasing them across a field, threatening to kill them, and sexually abusing them.

In 1981, Sharman served an 18-month prison sentence for two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault. Later, in 1994, he was jailed for ten months for indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl. These prior convictions underscored a pattern of predatory behavior that persisted over the years.

On the day of the assault, Sharman, who resides at Carr Bottom Fold in Wibsey, Bradford, approached the victim with manipulative intent. He paid her to send explicit texts about her sex life and kept a diary detailing his attraction to her, which he later used as leverage to threaten her. During the court hearing, prosecutor Nick Askins revealed that Sharman had tried to blackmail the woman by threatening to reveal the contents of his diary if she reported him to the police.

Sharman's interactions with the woman included compliments on her appearance and explicit expressions of his desire to watch her engage in sexual activity. He purchased her six pairs of underwear and a bra, inviting her to his flat. When she arrived with her boyfriend, Sharman asked her into his bedroom and turned up the music in the living room, creating an environment to facilitate his assault.

He then groped her, instructed her to remove her clothing, and pushed her onto his bed. Despite her resistance, he attempted to justify his actions by claiming, “There’s now’t wrong,” as he stood in the doorway. The victim managed to push past him and leave the flat. Following the incident, Sharman sent her text messages offering painkillers and warned her that if she went to the police, she should consider what he had written about her in his diary.

During police interviews, Sharman claimed that he had only tickled the girl in his bedroom to cheer her up, a statement that starkly contrasted with the court's findings. His history of sexual offenses, including previous convictions for indecent assault and rape, painted a picture of a repeat offender with a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

Judge John Potter addressed the court, condemning Sharman for viewing his victim as “a sex object” and labeling him a “sexual predator.” The judge sentenced him to three years in prison and issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order to protect future victims. Additionally, Sharman was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.