ARTHUR LANCASTER FROM BOLSOVER SENTENCED FOR RAPE OF SCHOOLGIRL IN DERBY

In June 2009, a severe legal case unfolded involving a pensioner from Bolsover who was convicted of repeatedly assaulting a young girl. Arthur Lancashire, aged 71, faced justice in Derby Crown Court after a series of disturbing allegations came to light.

According to court proceedings, Lancashire, a retired miner residing on Langwith Road in Bolsover, engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse against a girl who was only 14 years old when the abuse began. The offences spanned over a two-year period, during which the victim was subjected to multiple acts of sexual violence.

The prosecution, led by Clive Stockwell, detailed how Lancashire initially lured the girl with promises of modeling opportunities, taking innocent photographs of her while she was accompanied by a friend. However, the situation quickly escalated when Lancashire provided alcohol to the girl, leading to her being photographed naked. The court heard that Lancashire went further by recording videos of the sexual acts, including one of them engaging in intercourse.

It was revealed that the girl had sexual encounters with Lancashire three to four times weekly, with the abuse continuing until approximately four years prior to the court hearing. Lancashire admitted to charges of rape and making indecent images, acknowledging his guilt in these serious offences.

Judge John Burgess sentenced Lancashire to 11 years and three months in prison. Additionally, he ordered Lancashire to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life. In his remarks, the judge condemned Lancashire’s actions, stating, “You suborned her will and used those videos as a way of blackmailing her.”

During the sentencing, David Webster, representing Lancashire in mitigation, argued that the defendant’s guilty plea had spared the girl from the trauma of giving evidence and enduring a “disturbing and distressing cross-examination.” The case highlights the grave dangers faced by vulnerable young individuals and the importance of justice in such heinous crimes.