DERRICK MOLYNEUX SENTENCED FOR ABUSE IN FARNWORTH AND LLANDUDNO JUNCTION

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Farnworth and Llandudno Junction, Derrick Molyneux, aged 56, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of abusing teenage boys during the late 1980s. The offences, which took place between 1987 and 1989, involved Molyneux inviting three boys, all approximately 14 or 15 years old, to his home in Farnworth, where he subjected them to a series of sexual assaults.

According to court proceedings, the victims were introduced to Molyneux through a mutual acquaintance who was related to him. Over time, Molyneux would invite the teenagers to his residence, often in groups, and during these visits, he would serve them alcohol. The court heard that these gatherings sometimes extended to outings such as swimming at Farnworth baths, where Molyneux took the boys on at least one occasion. During these visits, the defendant would engage in indecent acts, often after the boys had consumed alcohol and were in a vulnerable state.

The victims recounted that after drinking, they would stay overnight at Molyneux’s house. It was during these nights that he would climb into their beds and commit sexual assaults, either under their underwear or by attempting to induce them to touch his private parts. The boys kept these traumatic experiences to themselves, feeling too embarrassed and uncomfortable to report the abuse at the time. It was only when they reached adulthood that they disclosed what had happened to them, a decision influenced by the distress caused by the abuse, as well as media reports of similar high-profile cases that resonated with their own experiences.

Prosecutor Brendan O’Leary explained that the victims did not forget the abuse and that two of them suffered from depression as a consequence. The court was also informed that Molyneux was arrested in September 2014 at his current residence in Glyn Y Marl Road, Llandudno Junction, Gwynedd. He initially denied the allegations but later pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault during his trial at Bolton Crown Court.

It was revealed that Molyneux had a prior conviction for gross indecency with a child in 1984, for which he received a 12-month probation sentence. His defense lawyer, Simon Killeen, described Molyneux as a “rather lonely, sad figure” and suggested that his behavior was indicative of grooming tendencies. Killeen also noted that Molyneux, who has been self-harming while incarcerated, could recall little about the specific incidents involving the boys.

Judge Graeme Smith sentenced Molyneux to four years in prison, emphasizing the grooming nature of the offences and the vulnerability of the victims. The judge also stated that there may have been other victims and highlighted the breach of trust involved, given Molyneux’s position as a trusted figure in the community. In addition to the custodial sentence, Molyneux was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further harm.