BLACKPOOL PAEDOPHILE GLYN HATTER SENTENCED TO 5.5 YEARS FOR ABUSING YOUNG GIRLS
In a case that has shocked the community of Blackpool, Glyn Hatter, a 72-year-old man who is now wheelchair-bound, was convicted of a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against two young girls.The abuse, which took place over a period of several years, involved manipulative and predatory behavior under the guise of 'special hugs,' a term Hatter used to justify his inappropriate actions.
Hatter, a former hotel operator residing in Tudor Place, South Shore, was found guilty of 20 counts of indecent assault by Preston Crown Court in October of the previous year.
The court sentenced him to five and a half years in prison, a decision that was upheld by three senior judges at London's Appeal Court, who dismissed his challenge to the sentence.
The judges explicitly stated their endorsement of the original punishment, emphasizing that the sentence was appropriate given the severity of the crimes.
According to the court proceedings, Mr.
Justice Stuart-Smith detailed the disturbing nature of Hatter’s misconduct.
The defendant engaged in separate incidents where he would lift the girls, rub himself against them, and force his tongue into their mouths.
These assaults often involved the victims sitting on his knee, during which he would touch them inappropriately and make unwanted advances.
The abuse was characterized by a pattern of grooming and manipulation, with Hatter exploiting his position of trust as a family member and hotelier.
The victims, who are now in their twenties, came forward many years after the abuse occurred, which initially remained hidden from the authorities.
Their courage in speaking out revealed the extent of Hatter’s predatory behavior and the profound psychological impact it had on them.
One of the victims suffered significant mental health issues as a result of the trauma.
The court heard that Hatter’s health had deteriorated considerably since 2008, when he was left semi-paralysed due to a brain abscess.
By the time of his sentencing, he relied on an electric wheelchair and required constant care from his wife.
During the appeal, Hatter’s legal representative, Tania Griffiths QC, argued that the sentence was excessively harsh, citing his poor health and physical limitations.
She pointed out that Hatter was prohibited from using an electric wheelchair while incarcerated, which would effectively immobilize him during his imprisonment.
However, Mr.
Justice Stuart-Smith, along with Lord Justice McCombe and Mr.
Justice Coulson, firmly rejected these arguments.
They stated that the original sentence was not only appropriate but also necessary to reflect the gravity of the crimes committed.
The judges emphasized that the sentence was not excessive or unjust, and they declined to interfere with it, instead endorsing the original punishment.
In a related case from October 2013, Hatter’s granddaughters, Katie and Keely, publicly expressed their relief and sense of justice after Hatter was convicted and sentenced.
The sisters, who had endured the abuse from a young age, waived their right to anonymity to encourage other victims to come forward.
Katie, now 24, described her feelings of joy and relief, stating, “I am absolutely overjoyed.
When my sister Keely and I came forward and spoke out, all we wanted was a guilty verdict.
Seeing him go to prison feels like justice has been served.” She recounted how Hatter, who managed the Wilton Hotel on Alexander Road, South Shore, had appeared to be a caring grandfather, often performing magic tricks and providing gifts.
However, beneath this facade, he was grooming them for abuse.
The assaults reportedly began during visits between October 1995 and March 2000, when the girls were just five and six years old.
The abuse included waking in the night to find Hatter assaulting them, as well as inappropriate touching while they sat on his knee in the computer room and during breakfast on the hotel’s breakfast bar.
Keely, now 23, also shared her feelings about the conviction, expressing that justice had been achieved.
She explained that the abuse only stopped after she confided in her parents, leading to the family moving away from the Fylde coast.
Both sisters emphasized the emotional toll the abuse had taken on them, including night tremors and ongoing trust issues.
Despite the pain, they praised the justice system and the jury’s decision, which they said validated their experiences and gave them hope.
Hatter’s defense argued that his physical condition, being in a manual wheelchair instead of his usual electric one, would hinder his ability to care for himself if imprisoned.
Nevertheless, Judge Badley, presiding over the case, highlighted the profound and lasting impact of Hatter’s actions on his victims.
She pointed out the aggravating factors, including his abuse of a position of trust, multiple victims, and threats made to Keely to silence her.
The judge sentenced Hatter to five and a half years behind bars, making clear that his crimes warranted a severe penalty to reflect their seriousness and the harm caused.
