HARRY FICKLING FROM EASINGTON COLLIERY SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS FOR ABUSE IN DURHAM

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Easington Colliery, Harry Fickling, aged 67, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 25 years after being found guilty of multiple heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse and repeated rapes of two young children. The sentencing took place at Durham Crown Court, where the court heard detailed accounts of the abuse and the devastating impact it had on the victims.

Prosecutor Sarah Mallett provided a chilling account of the abuse, revealing that Fickling had used a screwdriver on one of his victims and employed two unidentified implements on the other child. The court was told that the first victim suffered heavy bleeding during the assault, highlighting the severity of the abuse. The second victim was so traumatized that she was unable to look at the objects used during the assaults. The court heard that the abuse began when the first victim was approximately 10 years old in the early 1980s, while the second victim was only eight when she was first victimized by Fickling in the early 1990s.

Locations where the abuse took place included behind Peterlee Leisure Centre and in a lane beside the A19, indicating that the crimes occurred in public and semi-private settings within the community. Both victims expressed their motivation for coming forward was to prevent other young girls from suffering similar abuse, emphasizing their courage and desire to protect others.

One of the victims shared her feelings, stating, “I’m relieved he is now in prison. I have been in his prison for the last 20 years. I’ve been labelled a liar and a slag, but now everyone knows I was telling the truth and it is Harry Fickling who is the liar. He is disgusting and vile. I pity him, he deserves to be punished for what he has done.”

Harry Fickling, who resides on James Street in Easington Colliery, was convicted by a jury on five counts of rape and twelve counts of indecent assault. His defense attorney, Christine Egerton, stated that Fickling continues to deny the allegations, offering no mitigation for his actions.

Judge Christopher Prince commended the victims for their bravery in providing evidence, acknowledging that their testimonies made it possible to hold Fickling accountable for crimes committed decades ago. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Prince described Fickling as an articulate, intelligent, and convincing man who cynically exploited his character to fulfill his sexual desires. The judge emphasized that the victims told the truth, whereas Fickling was the one who lied.

Fickling was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with the court also imposing a lifelong ban on any contact with his victims through any means. The judge concluded by noting that Fickling’s potential incarceration or supervision until the end of his life was a direct result of the exemplary conduct of the victims in this case, who demonstrated remarkable courage and resilience throughout the proceedings.