DUNCAN MCDOWELL SHOCKS BOARSHAW AND BURNLEY WITH HORRIFIC SCHOOLGIRL RAPE SENTENCE

In April 2009, a disturbing case unfolded involving Duncan McDowell, a man from Boarshaw, who was convicted of raping a vulnerable schoolgirl in her own home in Burnley. The incident, which took place in the early hours, has left a lasting scar on the young victim and has drawn significant attention from the local community and legal authorities alike.

McDowell, aged 36 and a father of three, had only recently been released from prison when he committed this heinous act. The court heard that he had been out of incarceration for just a few weeks before he targeted the young girl, who was asleep in her residence in Burnley. The attack was particularly shocking because the victim was described as vulnerable, and the assault occurred in her own bed, a place where she should have felt safest.

Initially, Duncan McDowell denied any involvement in the assault, but subsequent scientific and medical evidence presented in court proved his guilt beyond doubt. Despite her efforts to resist, the terrified girl was unable to prevent the assault, which continued even as she struggled to fight him off. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that after the attack, McDowell told the girl, “You have got to keep this quiet,” a statement that underscored the manipulative and coercive nature of his actions.

The court was informed that McDowell had previously admitted to the rape, which occurred in July of the same year. At the time of sentencing, he was residing on Tennyson Drive in Boarshaw. As part of his punishment, he was sentenced to nine years in prison. Additionally, he was banned indefinitely from working with children and was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from having any contact with minors.

McDowell had been held on remand for 88 days prior to sentencing. Judge Simon Newell, presiding over the case, acknowledged that the attack was not premeditated but was instead influenced by alcohol consumption. The judge emphasized that McDowell had no prior history of violent behavior but pointed out the gravity of his actions. “But on that particular night, you took advantage of that vulnerable and very young girl,” Judge Newell stated.

The judge also expressed concern about the psychological impact on the victim, noting that she must have been terrified, worried, and deeply upset during and after the assault. The court could not predict how this traumatic experience would affect her in the future. Judge Newell clarified that the assault appeared to be driven by drunken sexual gratification rather than a sexual preference for children, but nonetheless, the harm inflicted was severe.

Prosecutor Sara Dodd detailed the sequence of events leading to the conviction. She explained that the girl, who had been out with friends earlier that evening, had gone to bed and fallen asleep. She awoke to find McDowell kneeling beside her, with his hand down her pants. The girl, frightened, pretended to still be asleep, but McDowell entered her bed and began to pull down her pants. Despite her efforts to push him away, he persisted and raped her. During the assault, he told her not to tell anyone, and she was left crying herself to sleep.

The following morning, the girl did not immediately disclose what had happened to her mother. Instead, she confided in a schoolfriend, and together they went to the Burnley police station to report the incident. The girl was interviewed via video on the same day. McDowell was subsequently arrested and initially denied any wrongdoing. The girl’s mother described her daughter as becoming quiet and withdrawn after the assault, feeling as though she had lost her sense of normalcy. The court also heard that the victim was experiencing difficulties with her schooling as a result of the trauma.

This case has left a profound impact on the local community in Boarshaw and Burnley, highlighting the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and ensuring that offenders are held accountable for their actions.