CHRISTOPHER AIRD FROM BARNOLDSWICK SENTENCED TO ADDITIONAL 5 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN BURNLEY

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local community, Christopher Aird, a man with a disturbing history of sexual offenses against children, has been sentenced to an additional five years in prison for heinous crimes committed in Burnley. The court proceedings revealed a troubling pattern of abuse that spanned over three decades, highlighting the severity and persistence of Aird's criminal behavior.

According to court records, Aird, aged 56 and known to have no fixed address, was already serving a 12-year sentence for sexually abusing two young girls, aged five and eight at the time. These offenses had been committed years prior, and he was convicted following a trial in 2012. During that trial, police had also spoken to a victim from his most recent case, which involved allegations against him for crimes committed against her. However, due to her young age and the gravity of the existing charges, authorities decided not to pursue the new allegations at that time.

It was only after the victim, who is from the Pendle area and cannot be named for legal reasons, came forward and expressed her inability to move on with her life until justice was served, that the case was revisited. Her statement prompted police to re-examine the evidence, leading to further investigation. In 2015, police interviewed Aird, who dismissed the victim's claims, describing her as ‘distrustful’ and ‘deceptive’. Despite his initial denial, the case was eventually brought before the crown court.

On the day of the trial, Aird unexpectedly pleaded guilty to the charge of rape, admitting to the abuse. The prosecution, led by Julian Goode, chose to leave a related count of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity on file, indicating that further charges could potentially be pursued in the future.

During the court hearing, the victim delivered a powerful and emotional personal statement from the witness box. She described how her life changed drastically following the abuse, stating, “My behaviour changed almost immediately from good to bad. I started to misbehave. I felt my personality had changed. I became a moody little girl. I started to close off from other people. My dreams became nightmares.” She also revealed that she was bullied at school as a consequence of her trauma and expressed her difficulty in accepting help, despite her resilience. She added, “I feel as though I am a strong person and I will get over this eventually. I wish it was a physical scar which could heal and start to fade. But it’s on my mind. I hope it will heal and in time become a blur.”

Judge Lunt, presiding over the case, described Aird as a dangerous offender, emphasizing the long history of offending against children. The judge stated, “I am satisfied you are a dangerous offender and there is a significant risk of you causing serious harm to others by the commission of further specified offences.” The court noted that Aird was due to be released in 2019 but was now sentenced to an additional five years in prison. Upon release, he will be subject to an extended license period of three years.

Furthermore, Aird, who is already under a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, was ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely. The court's decision underscores the serious concern about his potential to reoffend and the ongoing risk he poses to the community, especially vulnerable children in Barnoldswick and Burnley.