FERRYHILL SEXUAL DEVIANT JAILED FOR 20 YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE
A serial sexual deviant whose offending took place across a number of years has been jailed for 20 years.The 73-year-old’s sickening abuse had a devastating impact on the victim, which still reverberates around their life now.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Hillary’s abuse started at a young age.
The victim wrote: “The impact has lasted into adulthood, and I ended up in sexual relationships that I wanted no part of, but felt I didn’t have the choice or ability to say no to because of what he did.
“I have tried for a long time to understand what happened and why – I still don’t.
It has left me with severe depression and anxiety, which I struggle with day-to-day.” Hillary, of William Keers Crescent, Ferryhill, was convicted of seven counts of indecent assault, one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child, and a further charge of gross indecency following a trial at the same court.
Deborah Smithies, mitigating, said her client continues to maintain his innocence and deny the offences.
She urged the judge to take into consideration Hillary’s age and health when he passed sentence.
Recorder Tony Hawk told the pensioner had shown no remorse or insight into his offending as he passed sentence.
He noted that when Hillary was aged 17, he committed two offences of having sexual intercourse with a child.
He added: “They were an early indication of your lack of or contempt for any appropriate sexual boundaries.
“In 1986, you were sent to prison for indecent assault, rape and what was then described as having sexual intercourse with a woman with defective intellect.
Your victim was a young girl with severe mental handicap problems.” Hillary was sentenced to 20 years in prison with a year on extended licence and was made subject to a lifelong restraining order.
The judge said he had ruined his victim's life, concluding that he had caused "severe psychological harm”.
