ANTHONY HAYES FROM RUNCORN AND WIDNES SENTENCED FOR DECADE-LONG ABUSE OF STEP DAUGHTER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Runcorn and Widnes, Anthony Hayes, aged 46, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous crimes involving the systematic abuse of his stepdaughter. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of deeply troubling behavior that spanned over ten years, beginning when the victim was just five years old.

Hayes, who previously worked as a delivery driver for Piccolos pizza, appeared before the court to face charges that included the rape of a child, along with two counts of indecent assault. The severity of the allegations was underscored by the detailed evidence presented, which described a calculated campaign of mental, physical, and sexual abuse inflicted upon the young girl.

The court heard that the abuse was not sporadic but methodically carried out over a decade, with Hayes gradually escalating his actions. The victim, whose identity remains protected, endured this trauma from the age of five until she was 15. The case took a particularly disturbing turn when Hayes, at the age of 13, crossed a critical line by raping his stepdaughter, an act that marked a significant escalation in the severity of his crimes.

Following the conviction, Hayes was sentenced to serve eight years in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register for life, a measure designed to monitor and restrict his activities post-release. The court also disqualified him from working with children for the remainder of his life, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the potential risk he poses to society.

It was noted that Hayes was released from prison in 2014, and since then, he has been residing in Widnes while working in Runcorn. The case has brought to light the importance of vigilance and safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable children from predators within their own families and communities.