CLIFFORD HALE'S HORRIFIC ABUSE IN PONTYPOOL AND WIGAN: A LONG-AWAITED JUSTICE

In a case that has spanned decades and shocked the local communities of Pontypool and Wigan, Clifford Hale, aged 58, has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against young girls. The crimes, which took place primarily during the late 1990s and early 2000s, involved Hale abusing three young victims at his farm in Lowton, Wigan, before he later moved to an address on The Highway in Pontypool, Gwent.

Hale’s criminal activities only came to light after years of silence and suffering endured by the victims. The brave women who suffered at his hands finally found the courage to report the abuse, with two of them approaching the police in March 2016 to disclose the historic sexual assaults. Their testimonies revealed a disturbing pattern of exploitation that had remained hidden for years.

The first victim, who was approximately 10 years old at the time of the abuse in the late 1990s, recounted how Hale had assaulted her while she was visiting his farm in Lowton. She described a traumatic incident where she was engaged in playing a computer game when Hale suddenly grabbed her hand and forced her to touch him inappropriately. The assault escalated when he put his hand up her jumper, touching her further without her consent. The girl also recounted how Hale entered her room while she was sleeping, exposed himself, and tried to coerce her into touching him. She refused his advances, and when other children entered the room, Hale quickly covered himself and left.

The second victim, also around 10 years old at the time, was assaulted in 1999. She fell asleep while watching a film at Hale’s residence and awoke to find Hale carrying her upstairs to bed. Trusting him, she went back to sleep, only to wake again in an upstairs bed where Hale had grabbed her hand and made her touch him inappropriately. Her account added to the disturbing pattern of Hale’s predatory behavior.

A third victim, who was approximately seven years old during her stay at Hale’s property in the early 2000s, later came forward during police investigations. While watching television alone, she heard a noise and looked to see Hale in the doorway, dressed in a dressing gown and exposing himself to her. Her testimony further confirmed Hale’s pattern of sexual misconduct against young girls.

Hale’s arrest was initiated in April 2016, following the disclosures of the first two victims. He was detained again in June of the same year. Despite denying the allegations repeatedly during police questioning, Hale was formally charged in November 2017. His trial culminated at Bolton Crown Court, where he faced five counts of indecent activity with a child and one count of indecent assault of a girl under the age of 14.

The court’s verdict was delivered on a Friday, with Hale being found guilty of all charges. The authorities and the victims have expressed their relief and gratitude for the justice served, emphasizing the importance of bravery in coming forward to break the silence surrounding such abuse. The case highlights the long-lasting impact of childhood trauma and the critical need for vigilance and support for victims of sexual violence.