GARY HIGGINS OF RIBBLETON SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a case that has shocked the community of Ribbleton, Gary Higgins, a 44-year-old man residing on Franklands Drive, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 19 years after being convicted of a series of heinous sexual offences committed against a young girl. The crimes, which spanned over eight years, involved a disturbing pattern of abuse that began when the victim was only six years old and continued until she reached the age of 14.

Higgins faced a total of 18 charges related to these offences, with the majority being rape—specifically, 14 counts—alongside charges of sexual activity with a child, indecency with a child, and indecent assault. The case was brought to court after the victim, now 16, bravely came forward in February of this year to report that she had been subjected to ongoing sexual abuse from the age of six. Her courage in revealing such traumatic experiences was acknowledged by authorities and played a crucial role in the pursuit of justice.

During a two-week trial held at Preston Crown Court in June, Higgins maintained his innocence, denying all allegations of rape and abuse. However, the jury found him guilty of 13 counts of rape, two counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of indecency with a child, and one count of indecent assault. He was acquitted on one additional charge of rape. The court heard detailed evidence indicating that the abuse began when the girl was just six years old and persisted over several years, causing profound harm and trauma.

Detective Chief Rob Kirkham, of Preston’s Public Protection Unit and Sex Exploitation Team, commented on the case, emphasizing the victim’s remarkable strength and bravery. He stated, “The victim in this case showed immense courage and strength of character beyond her years in reporting the matter and supporting the criminal prosecution. The sentence in this case clearly reflects the horrendous breach of trust in stripping the victim of her childhood and naivety.”

Following the verdict, Higgins was remanded into custody and later sentenced to serve a total of 19 years in prison. Due to the severity of his crimes, he will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole. Additionally, he will be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and will be subject to a five-year extended licence period upon release. A police spokesperson from Lancashire Police expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “We are very pleased with the sentence. Higgins is a dangerous man and he will have to serve almost 13 years before he can apply for parole.”

This case underscores the importance of vigilance and the bravery of victims in confronting abuse, as well as the justice system’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals from predatory offenders in communities like Ribbleton.