2001: BUSINESSMAN JAILED FOR ATTACKS ON YOUNG GIRLS
A previously disgraced managing director from Hereford attempted to take his own life by slashing his wrists and driving off a cliff after committing sexual offenses against two young girls, Worcester Crown Court was informed this week.The victims, aged seven and nine, later disclosed that 55-year-old Eric Spalding had spanked their bare bottoms and engaged in other inappropriate acts.
His suicide attempt in Wales, which occurred in October of the previous year, was unsuccessful, and he was subsequently hospitalized at Bangor, where he recovered from his injuries.
Judge Mr.
Justice Curtis sentenced Spalding, who resides on Hillside Avenue, Hereford, to 15 months in prison.
The court also ordered that the prison authorities obtain a psychiatric report indicating that the defendant remains at risk of suicide.
The judge emphasized to him: "Young girls need protection from the courts.
Such conduct cannot be tolerated." According to prosecutor Andrew Lockhart, Spalding’s 30-year marriage ended in divorce after he received a police caution in March 1999 for exposing himself twice to teenage girls.
Despite this warning, he continued his offending, attacking two other girls in a different town in Herefordshire.
Spalding was detained in Wales following the cliff incident.
He maintained that he was not sexually aroused by his actions but admitted to five counts of indecent assault.
Defence lawyer Lee Marklew described the offenses as 'deeply repugnant' and explained that his client had been suffering from depression and was in a state of personal turmoil.
He noted that Spalding, once a diligent family man, had become isolated after his wife left him following his arrest, leading to increased alcohol consumption.
Spalding also described how he drove his car off a cliff and then voluntarily spent five weeks in a psychiatric hospital.
As part of his sentence, Spalding was ordered to register as a sex offender for a decade.
The judge expressed regret that a man with his background and intelligence did not heed previous warnings about indecent exposure but instead committed more serious offenses.
