2000: RUNCORN MAN JAILED
A RUNCORN man was sentenced to two years in prison at this week for indecently assaulting an 11 year old girl.A jury at Warrington Crown Court found Bernard Linford, 52, guilty on one charge of indecently assaulting the schoolgirl.
Linford appeared with co-defendants Geoffrey Earnest Fowler, 35, and Mary Bernadette Fowler, 49, sentenced for 13 years each on sex charges.
The court heard how Linford was told by the co-defendants that the youngster would be available for sex.
On discovering she was a schoolgirl, Linford refused to have intercourse with the girl, but forced her to perform a sex act on him.
Sentencing, Judge David Hale said: "You knew she was a schoolgirl, and I'm prepared to accept in your favour that you did not involve yourself in sexual intercourse.
It was an indecent assault and the offence is made worse because there were three people present and she was under coercion.
You could have shut the door and walked out but you stayed and the offence is made worse by that fact.
The fact remains you did involve yourself with this child with whatever degree of resistance.
You could have left the room but you didn't." Linford was also ordered to report his address to police for 10 years following his release.
