GRANT ASPDEN'S SHOCKING CRUELTY IN BLACKBURN LEAVES COMMUNITY OUTRAGED

In February 2004, a deeply disturbing case unfolded in Blackburn that has left the local community reeling with outrage and disbelief. A mother, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, took extraordinary measures to expose a man she believed had inflicted harm on her young son. Using a children's 'singalong' tape recorder, she secretly recorded her 13-month-old child's distress signals while in the care of Grant Aspden, a man residing on Fielding Crescent in Blackburn.

More than a year after the incident, the mother recounted her ongoing anguish, revealing that she still vividly hears the haunting recordings of her child's screams and cries. She expressed her profound disappointment and anger at the court's decision to let Aspden walk free, stating, "The magistrates heard that same tape and I can't believe they have dealt with that monster so lightly. I still have nightmares about it, and if there was any justice, he would be behind bars. He should rot in hell for the rest of his life."

Initially, during a previous hearing, magistrates indicated they were considering an immediate prison sentence for Aspden. However, the proceedings were halted due to a legal technicality, delaying justice. When the case resumed, 30-year-old Aspden pleaded guilty at Blackburn magistrates to charges of cruelty to a child. As part of his sentence, he was subjected to a two-year community rehabilitation order and ordered to pay costs amounting to £150.

The court heard that Aspden admitted to shouting abuse at the child, although his defense lawyer, Michael Blacklidge, argued that there was no history of cruelty through verbal abuse. Prosecutor Phillip Potter provided further context, explaining that prior to the January 2003 incident, the mother had noticed her son was reluctant to approach Aspden and was hesitant to be picked up by him. Concerned for her child's welfare, she borrowed a children's tape recorder from her sister and left it running during Aspden's babysitting.

Mr. Potter described how the mother, after listening to the recording, reported her findings to the police. The court was shown approximately 25 minutes of the tape, which captured the child's distress through crying and screaming, alongside Aspden's repeated shouting and animal-like grunting noises. The transcript also referenced 'slapping noises,' though it was acknowledged by the prosecution that Aspden had not physically harmed the child.

Defense attorney Blacklidge emphasized that Aspden had accepted responsibility and expressed remorse, stating, "These proceedings have been hanging over him for 12 months, and for the second time, he has had the humiliation of listening to the tape again. He is thoroughly ashamed of his behavior and accepts that any responsible adult would be appalled at the way he conducted himself."

Despite the trauma, the mother reported that her son has grown into a normal, happy, and healthy two-year-old, showing no apparent mental scars from the ordeal. She expressed hope that her son would never have to listen to the tape and that it would not become a lasting childhood memory. However, she admitted that the experience had left her emotionally scarred, saying, "I think it will haunt me for the rest of my life. If he had gone to prison, I think I could have drawn a line under the incident and moved on, but I feel as though it hasn't ended."