ANTHONY ATKINSON'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN SILLOTH: PENSIONER JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Silloth, Anthony Atkinson, a 70-year-old man, has been sentenced to prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young girl. The crimes, which took place over a three-month period from October 1 to December 31, occurred at a residence in North Cumbria, specifically within the town of Silloth, where Atkinson previously resided at Tanglewood Caravan Park.

Atkinson pleaded guilty to six counts of sexually assaulting a child, along with three additional charges related to possessing indecent images of children. Some of these images were classified in the highest legal category, indicating their extreme severity. The allegations came to light after the victim reported the incidents, leading to a swift police response. Prosecutor Barbara Webster told Carlisle Crown Court that there were at least three separate incidents of sexual assault, with the initial complaint made on January 1. Following the report, police officers quickly interviewed the young girl, and Atkinson was arrested shortly thereafter.

During a search of Atkinson’s home, authorities discovered a collection of indecent images depicting children, further implicating him in the criminal activity. The court heard that Atkinson, who was previously convicted in the 1970s for having sexual contact with a girl under 16, had a long history of offending. His prior convictions resulted in short prison sentences, highlighting a pattern of predatory behavior spanning decades.

Before sentencing, Judge Peter Davies addressed the court and allowed a family member of the victim to speak about the profound impact the offenses had on the young girl. The family member described her as once being a happy and eager child, always wanting to please others. However, since the assaults, her demeanor had drastically changed. She had become more aggressive, lost her confidence, and refused to go anywhere alone. The family member emphasized that she was no longer the same child, illustrating the deep emotional scars inflicted by Atkinson’s actions.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Davies expressed his condemnation of Atkinson’s conduct, describing the ordeal as a “terrible thing for a young girl to endure.” He pointed out that Atkinson’s interest appeared to be predominantly in young girls, and while he was relieved that the assaults did not escalate further, the targeted and persistent nature of the crimes was evident. The judge also ordered a sexual harm prevention order to be placed on Atkinson, which will remain until further hearings.

Earlier in April 2016, Atkinson had already admitted to multiple child sex offenses. During a court appearance at Carlisle Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to six separate sexual assaults on the same victim, committed between October 1 and December 31 of the previous year. The victim was under 13 years old at the time. Additionally, Atkinson admitted to possessing three indecent photographs of children, with one image classified as Category A, indicating the most serious level of illegal content. The police investigation uncovered a total of 25 illegal images, further underscoring the severity of his offenses.

Judge Peter Hughes QC adjourned the case for sentencing scheduled for May 12. Until then, Atkinson remains in custody, having been remanded following his guilty pleas. The community of Silloth continues to grapple with the revelations of these disturbing crimes, which have profoundly affected the victim and cast a shadow over the town’s reputation.