CHILD PREDATOR WHO LAUGHED IN VICTIM'S FACES
David Blackburn, from Quarry Green, Northwood, Kirkby, has been convicted of heinous sexual offences against two young girls, beginning when they were just seven and nine years old.Blackburn, who was a teenager at the time he began abusing the victims, continued his criminal behaviour into adulthood, despite being married with children.
One of the girls, who was raped by Blackburn over thirty years ago, was visibly emotional upon hearing of his 19-year prison sentence on Monday.
Supporters in the court gallery expressed relief and comforted her during the sentencing.
Merseyside Police explained that they did not take a mugshot of Blackburn because he attended a voluntary police interview, and as a result, the ECHO does not have a photograph of him.
Nevertheless, we can now reveal his face, the man who callously exploited his victims as "sexual playthings." Blackburn faced a jury at Liverpool Crown Court, where he was found guilty of multiple charges.
He denied any wrongdoing but was convicted of five counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child concerning his first victim, when she was aged between nine and 13.
The prosecuting attorney, Martine Snowdon, described how the victim was subjected to sexual touching, acts performed on her, exposure, requests for her to touch him, and shown explicit images from a book.
The girl recounted that she asked him to stop, but "he would just laugh." Regarding the second victim, Blackburn was convicted of 15 counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecency with a child, and one count of rape.
He began abusing her at age seven, involving sexual touching and acts.
When she was 12, Blackburn made her perform a sex act on him.
He also once lay atop her but was interrupted and fled.
At age 14, he raped her.
The victim initially reported the assault in 1990 but later retracted her complaint due to pressure.
In her victim statement, the second woman disclosed she now takes antidepressants and medication for anxiety.
She described how her trauma is an ongoing burden, leading to suicidal thoughts, nightmares, and her recent decision to pursue counselling independently of the court process.
Judge Recorder Ian Harris reviewed a pre-sentence report and commented on Blackburn's remorse or lack thereof noting that Blackburn maintains his innocence, and the report assesses him as a high risk of reoffending.
Defence lawyer Lee Bonner acknowledged Blackburn's mental health struggles, including depression linked to divorce, and noted that he was on medication and had been referred for memory assessment.
Bonner highlighted Blackburn's lack of prior convictions, his cognitive impairments, and his limited education and employment history.
He stressed that Blackburn's recent offences occurred over 30 years ago and suggested that he was a different man now.
Addressing Blackburn’s past offenses, Judge Harris pointed out that his predatory behaviour began with the first girl and persisted with the second, even after starting a family.
Both victims described threats from Blackburn and the pain caused by his actions.
The second girl recalled her pleas for him to stop, which he ignored, often threatening harm if she informed anyone.
The judge emphasised that the second girl was coerced into retracting her 1990 rape complaint.
He condemned Blackburn’s actions as a devastating violation of innocence, stating, "Both of your victims have suffered and continue to suffer to this day.
You simply ruined the innocence of these two children." Concluding the sentencing, Recorder Harris noted Blackburn's awareness that his conduct was wrong.
He described Blackburn as an "offender of particular concern" and sentenced him to 19 years in prison, with an additional year on license, meaning Blackburn will serve approximately 11 and a half years before being eligible for parole.
Additionally, Blackburn is required to register as a sex offender for life.
