ANTONY HARTSHORN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN ELLESMERE PORT

In a case that has shocked the community of Ellesmere Port, Antony Hartshorn, a man with a disturbing history of abusing young children during his teenage years, has been sentenced to prison for his heinous crimes. The court proceedings revealed that Hartshorn, now 42 years old and residing on Wilkinson Street in Ellesmere Port, committed a series of indecent assaults on two young victims, one of whom was only eight years old at the time of the abuse.

These offences took place during the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Hartshorn was between the ages of 13 and 15. The first victim, a girl, was subjected to repeated acts of sexual assault, including being made to touch Hartshorn’s genitals, engaging in sexual acts, and even simulated intercourse. The second victim, a young boy aged just six or seven, was assaulted in a shed, with Hartshorn also engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct towards him.

The disturbing revelations came to light nearly three decades later, in December 2015, when the second victim, who is legally protected from identification, reported Hartshorn to the police. Following this, Hartshorn was charged with seven counts of indecent assault on a female under 14 and one count of gross indecency with a child. He pleaded guilty to all charges, acknowledging his guilt in court.

During the sentencing hearing at Chester Crown Court on Monday, January 30, the court heard emotional testimony from the female victim, who bravely read an impact statement. She described her suffering as a result of Hartshorn’s actions, referring to his crimes as “selfish, destructive sickness.” She recounted how she has struggled with anxiety and depression into her adulthood, feeling damaged and worthless because of the abuse.

“I hated the skin I was in because of what he did to me,” she stated. She also shared her difficulties in social situations, believing that others could see her inner pain and damage. Her struggles led her to move in with a man from her workplace at 18, who treated her poorly, which she believed was her deserved punishment.

The male victim, in a statement read aloud by prosecutor Oliver King, revealed that he turned to drugs in an attempt to forget the traumatic memories of his childhood. He expressed a profound sense of loss, stating that his childhood had been taken away from him due to Hartshorn’s actions.

Hartshorn’s defense lawyer, Brian Treadwell, described his client as remorseful and accepting of his guilt, citing his guilty pleas as evidence of his acknowledgment of wrongdoing. Treadwell also noted that Hartshorn’s only previous conviction was for benefit fraud over 20 years ago and that he has been assessed as a low risk of reoffending.

In delivering his sentence, His Honour Judge Simon Berkson emphasized the severity of Hartshorn’s actions, stating, “When you were a young teenager, you behaved in an appalling way to two young children. You were young at the time, but they were much younger and only children. You have blighted the lives of two people.” The judge also acknowledged that if these offences were tried today, the sentences would likely be much harsher, but due to the sentencing guidelines at the time and Hartshorn’s age, the current sentence was deemed appropriate.

Hartshorn was sentenced to four years in prison, with the court ordering that he serve two years behind bars and the remaining two years on license, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the impact on his victims.