ARTHUR INGRAM FROM NEWTOWNABBEY SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR YEARS OF ABUSE IN BELFAST

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Newtownabbey and the wider Belfast area, Arthur Ingram, a pensioner from Dunanney in Newtownabbey, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 14 years for a prolonged campaign of sexual abuse and assault against a young girl. The sentencing took place yesterday, with Ingram showing no visible emotion as the judge announced that he would serve the full term behind bars.

Ingram, aged 69 at the time of sentencing, was convicted by a jury in Belfast Crown Court in May of multiple serious offenses. The court found him guilty of five counts of indecent assault, three counts of common assault, and seven counts of rape, all committed against a girl from her childhood into her teenage years. The abuse spanned nearly a decade, beginning in 1982 and continuing until 1991, primarily in the north Belfast area.

Following his conviction, Ingram was also ordered to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life. Additionally, he was subjected to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which aims to restrict his movements and prevent further offending. The severity of the sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes and the lasting impact they have had on his victim.

The victim, now a 45-year-old woman, expressed her relief and gratitude after the sentencing. She publicly thanked the police, the Public Prosecution Service, and Nexus NI, a counselling service that supported her through her ordeal. She stated, “I fought for seven years to get this man to court, so I’m very pleased with the sentence he got. I want to thank the police, and in particular the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, and all the staff in the PPS who worked on my case. I also want to thank Donna McIlroy from Nexus, because without her I would not be here today.”

During the sentencing hearing, Belfast Recorder Judge David McFarland highlighted the profound and damaging impact of Ingram’s actions. He told Ingram that “by robbing her of her teenage years, you totally corrupted her,” emphasizing the devastating effect of the abuse on the victim’s life.

The court heard that the abuse began when the girl was just eight years old. She described being subjected to physical, sexual, and mental abuse by Ingram into her late teens. Crown prosecutor Jackie Orr QC characterized the offenses as “sustained sexual abuse which the victim endured in her formative years, which has had a significant impact on her.”

Despite his conviction, Ingram maintains his innocence and is currently appealing the verdict, a fact he did not show any emotion about during the proceedings. His defense lawyer, Gavan Duffy QC, highlighted Ingram’s previously good work record and nearly clean criminal history. The Probation Board assessed him as having a low risk of reoffending and not being dangerous.

Judge McFarland condemned Ingram’s actions as a “campaign of rape” and described how he “totally corrupted” the young girl during her teenage years. The judge also pointed out that Ingram was willing to use physical force to maintain control over his victim, further illustrating the brutality of his crimes. The sentencing underscores the serious nature of the offenses and the lasting scars inflicted upon the victim, who has shown remarkable resilience in seeking justice for her suffering.