EDWARD HARRINGTON FROM BULWELL SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN KIDDERMINSTER AND NOTTINGHAM

In December 2003, Edward Harrington, a man residing in Bulwell at the time, was involved in a disturbing case of child abuse that drew significant attention from law enforcement authorities. Harrington was accused of engaging in a sinister grooming process with a young girl, aged just 12, by inviting her into his home and exposing her to illegal and highly inappropriate material on his computer.

The videos that Harrington showed the girl were of a particularly disturbing nature, featuring children as young as eight and 11 years old. These videos represented some of the most serious forms of indecency, and Harrington's actions went beyond mere viewing. He also touched the young girl indecently over her clothing, further compounding the severity of his misconduct.

The victim, whose identity remains protected, reported the abuse to the police in March of the same year. Following her complaint, Harrington was swiftly arrested and taken into custody. At the time of his arrest, Harrington was 53 years old and was living in Bulwell. However, subsequent legal proceedings revealed that he was later residing on Avon Road in Kidderminster.

Harrington faced a series of serious charges, including indecency with a child, indecent assault, and the production of indecent pseudo-photographs from video footage. During the trial at Nottingham Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to all charges, acknowledging his guilt in the matter.

Judge Joan Butler, QC, presided over the case and delivered a stern judgment. She emphasized the gravity of Harrington’s actions, stating, “It is quite plain from the evidence that you groomed this young girl. You invited her into the house and took her to see your indecent video clips. They were of the most serious type of indecency.”

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Butler sentenced Harrington to three years in prison. She also ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, reflecting the ongoing risk he posed to the community. The judge further explained that Harrington would serve half of his sentence in custody, with the remaining half suspended on parole, indicating her concern about his potential for reoffending.

During the proceedings, Harrington’s defense attorney, Robert Egbuna, argued that his client had shown some remorse and understood the wrongfulness of his actions. Egbuna pointed out that Harrington was 54 years old and had not served a custodial sentence for a significant period prior to this case. He also highlighted that Harrington had no previous convictions related to similar offenses.

Despite these arguments, the court maintained that Harrington was a high-risk individual due to his grooming behavior and the serious nature of his crimes. The case served as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who exploit and abuse vulnerable children, and it underscored the importance of vigilant law enforcement and judicial measures to protect young victims from such predatory behavior.