COLIN HADDLESEY'S HORRIFIC CHILD SEX ABUSE IN HECKMONDWIKE SPANS DECADES

In a chilling case that has shocked the community of Heckmondwike, a man named Colin Haddlesey has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of more than three decades. The Leeds Crown Court heard detailed accounts of Haddlesey’s long history of abusing children, with his criminal activities dating back to the 1960s and continuing into the late 1990s.

Haddlesey’s offending only came to light earlier this year after two of his victims, who had previously suffered in silence, discovered each other and realized they were not alone in their suffering. This revelation prompted them to report Haddlesey to the authorities, leading to a wider investigation that uncovered additional victims. Some of these victims recounted being abused while Haddlesey was serving as a soldier on leave, highlighting the disturbing extent of his predatory behavior.

One particularly harrowing account involved a young boy who was forced into a sexual act at gunpoint, with Haddlesey threatening to shoot him and throw him into a nearby canal if he refused. Another victim, a teenage girl, was raped by Haddlesey in the late 1990s, marking the culmination of his decades-long pattern of abuse.

Prosecutor Sharon Beattie explained that by the time Haddlesey was arrested in September of this year, he had already disposed of any firearms he might have possessed in the past. The 63-year-old, residing on Fisher Way in Heckmondwike, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of rape, possession of an imitation firearm with intent, and 21 other sexual offenses involving seven children and one adult.

During sentencing, Judge Tom Bayliss QC acknowledged that Haddlesey was only a teenager when he first began offending. However, the judge emphasized that the severity of his crimes escalated over time, with increasing depravity directed at vulnerable and defenseless victims. The judge condemned Haddlesey for threatening his victims into silence and for corrupting some of them after giving them alcohol. In one disturbing case, a boy’s parents believed Haddlesey was taking him to the Bradford Speedway with other children, unaware of the abuse happening behind the scenes.

Some victims were shown pornographic films before being assaulted, further illustrating the manipulative and predatory nature of Haddlesey’s crimes. Judge Bayliss remarked that the impact on the victims was incalculable and stated that he was departing from standard sentencing guidelines because Haddlesey’s offenses spanned years and involved multiple victims, with a level of depravity that warranted a harsher sentence. The judge noted that had it not been for Haddlesey’s guilty pleas and his poor health, he might have considered a life sentence or an extended term.

Following his arrest, Haddlesey initially denied all allegations. He was released on bail but then went missing from his home, leading to fears that he might attempt to take his own life. Fortunately, he reappeared a week later. His legal representative, Michael Collins, stated that Haddlesey’s guilty pleas demonstrated genuine remorse and revealed that he is suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Collins also expressed Haddlesey’s heartfelt apologies to the victims and their families.

After the sentencing, Detective Constable Nikki Askew of the Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit commented on the case, emphasizing that Haddlesey’s substantial sentence reflects the extensive sexual and emotional damage inflicted over many years. She praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward and expressed hope that the outcome would bring some closure to a deeply traumatic chapter in their lives. The investigation into Haddlesey’s crimes was described as the result of an intensive and thorough police effort, underscoring the importance of persistent law enforcement in tackling such heinous offenses.