ANTHONY VICK FROM CRAWSHAWBOOTH AND ROSSENDALE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE

In February 2000, a man named Anthony Vick was sentenced to a five-and-a-half-year prison term after being convicted of sexually abusing two young girls. The crimes, which spanned nearly three decades, involved acts of rape and indecent assault, leaving a lasting impact on the victims and their families.

Anthony Vick, aged 53, who previously operated a business in the Rossendale Valley, appeared in Burnley Crown Court to face justice. During the proceedings, Vick was seen sobbing in the dock as his legal representative addressed the court, emphasizing the profound loss and remorse he felt. The barrister highlighted that Vick had lost everything he once possessed, acknowledging that no amount of remorse could undo the harm caused.

The court was informed that the first of Vick’s offenses occurred in Rossendale nearly 30 years prior. The initial acts of abuse reportedly began with seemingly innocent tickling games, which escalated into more serious misconduct. One of the victims, who was petrified, screamed during the assault, and Vick threatened her with violence if she disclosed what had happened. He also told her that he had engaged in sexual activity with her and warned her not to tell anyone.

Judge Raymond Bennett addressed Vick directly, stating, “They will have to live with what you did to them for the rest of their days. Some girls never really get over it.” The judge’s words underscored the lifelong trauma inflicted upon the victims.

At the time of his arrest, Vick was residing at a bail hostel in Liverpool, although he had previously lived on St Thomas Road in Crawshawbooth. He had admitted to three counts of indecent assault and two charges of rape, with no prior criminal convictions. The prosecution, led by Kevin Donnelly, detailed how Vick had indecently touched one girl and, despite her pleas for him to stop, continued his assault, telling her there was nothing wrong. Vick also threatened her with violence if she revealed what had happened.

Regarding the second victim, the prosecution explained that Vick initially engaged her with tickling, claiming it was a game and instructing her to keep it secret. Due to her young age, she believed there was nothing inappropriate about his actions. The defendant then fondled her, and when she asked him to stop, he reassured her it was all right. The abuse escalated to full sexual intercourse, after which Vick warned her not to tell anyone and gave her a £1 note as a form of hush money.

During the hearing, Sara Dodd, Vick’s defense lawyer, expressed that her client was aware he would be going into custody and struggled to articulate his remorse. She acknowledged that Vick admitted to having sex with one of the girls early on but claimed he could remember nothing else about the incidents. She also stated that Vick did not challenge the victims’ accounts of what happened.

Ms. Dodd emphasized that Vick recognized he could not undo the damage he had caused and that he had lost everything he once valued. She concluded by saying, “He has lost everything he ever had. He will come out of custody with absolutely nothing.”