COLIN HOLLAND'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN RUNCORN: DRUG SMUGGLING AND VIGILANTE ATTACKS

In May 2018, Colin Holland, a 44-year-old man from Runcorn, found himself at the center of a series of serious criminal allegations and incidents that drew significant attention from local authorities and the community alike.

Holland, a convicted sex offender, was involved in a disturbing incident where he was stabbed in his own home by an unidentified intruder. The assailant reportedly shouted the word “nonce” during the attack and used a knife to inflict injuries upon Holland. At the time, Holland was awaiting sentencing after being convicted of sexual assault offenses committed against two young victims during the early 2000s.

Despite the gravity of his convictions, Holland was spared immediate imprisonment in April of the previous year. Instead, he received a sentence of 12 months in prison, which was suspended for two years, allowing him to remain free under certain conditions. However, his troubles did not end there. Just three months after his sentencing, on July 23, Holland visited his cousin, Stuart Doyle, who was incarcerated at HMP Altcourse in Fazakerley. During this visit, Holland was caught attempting to smuggle contraband into the prison.

According to court reports, Holland handed Doyle a package containing cannabis and steroids. The prison security staff intercepted the package, and subsequent investigations revealed the contents. Holland was confronted with CCTV footage, which he initially denied was related to any wrongdoing, claiming the package was merely a sandwich. Nevertheless, officers recovered two packages of cannabis resin weighing approximately 94.2 grams, with an estimated street value of around £940, along with 76 tablets of the anabolic steroid stanozolol.

Holland was charged with possession with intent to supply Class B and Class C drugs, as well as breaching the terms of his suspended sentence. His criminal record is extensive, with 14 previous convictions spanning 23 offenses, including causing grievous bodily harm with intent and cannabis cultivation. The court also examined the details of his past sexual offenses, which involved an incident at a victim’s home where he sent a message online asking if she was alone, then arrived shortly after to pursue her with unwanted physical advances. The victim managed to escape and alert others, but Holland’s actions left a lasting impact.

Another assault involved a different victim in a caravan, where she begged Holland to stop his aggressive behavior, which she found frightening. Holland’s history also includes a severe brain injury sustained during a violent attack in 1996, which resulted in him learning to speak and walk again. His physical and mental health struggles have led to him using a wheelchair and experiencing episodes of low mood.

During the court proceedings, Holland’s defense lawyer, Jeremy Rawson, highlighted his recent personal developments, including the birth of a child with his girlfriend two weeks prior and his four other children, who are currently in care. Rawson expressed concern that Holland would lose his home in Baxter Close, Runcorn, if jailed, and described him as being “petrified” of the potential consequences. The lawyer also detailed the ongoing harassment Holland faced in his community, including attacks, beatings, and vandalism, which he claimed were attempts to intimidate him due to his past.

Judge Rachel Smith emphasized the importance of deterring similar criminal behavior, especially the attempt to smuggle drugs into prison under the guise of seeking protection. She sentenced Holland to 15 months in prison, comprising four and a half months for the drug-related offenses and an additional ten and a half months to serve as part of his suspended sentence. The judge made it clear that Holland’s motivation was to seek protection from the repercussions of his previous sexual convictions, which had made him a target for violence and hostility in his community.

Earlier in April 2017, Holland had already been the subject of a vigilante attack. He was attacked in his home during the Easter weekend by an intruder who shouted “nonce” and stabbed him. At that time, Holland, who was in a wheelchair, was awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of sexual assaults against two teenage girls in the 2000s. The court heard that one assault occurred at a victim’s home after Holland sent her a message online asking if she was alone. He arrived about ten minutes later, appeared intoxicated, and subjected her to unwanted physical contact, including kissing and groping. The victim managed to escape and alert others.

The second assault took place in a caravan, involving a different girl who felt “freaked out” by Holland’s advances and begged him to stop. Holland was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, for these offenses, and was ordered to pay costs and register as a sex offender. His history of violence and sexual misconduct continues to cast a shadow over his life, with ongoing legal and community repercussions.