HARRY HOLLINSHEAD'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN MEIR AND STOKE: SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY BEHAVIOR

In December 2015, Harry Hollinshead, a man previously residing in Meir and later living in Stoke, was released from prison after serving half of his lengthy sentence. His criminal activities, which spanned over a decade, had left a trail of psychological trauma among his victims and brought significant attention to the issue of child exploitation in the region.

Back in February 2013, Hollinshead, aged 76 at the time, was convicted at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of three young girls. The court heard that Hollinshead, a resident of Meir, had pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of indecent assault on a child under 13, three counts of inciting or causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, and possession of indecent photographs of children. Additionally, he was found guilty of making and possessing indecent images, as well as possessing extreme pornographic material. These offenses dated back to the year 2000, highlighting a long history of predatory behavior.

Detective Inspector Andy Maxfield, from the Child Exploitation Team, described Hollinshead as a predator who specifically targeted young girls. The prosecutor, Rebecca Wade, emphasized the profound psychological damage inflicted upon the victims. She detailed that Hollinshead's first victim was assaulted in 2002, with the offender touching her inappropriately. The second victim, only eight years old, was photographed indecently by Hollinshead, who then showed her the images. The third victim, aged 11, received messages from Hollinshead asking her to send photographs of herself. On one occasion, he handed her his phone and instructed her to take pictures of herself.

The abuse escalated over time, with Hollinshead engaging in physical acts of molestation. Miss Wade recounted that he would follow the girl behind a shed and ask her to touch his private parts, as well as sexually touching her over her clothing. The most severe incident involved Hollinshead pushing the girl against the shed and sexually assaulting her. The victim who reported the abuse last June provided crucial evidence that led to his arrest.

Police investigations uncovered a disturbing collection of digital material on Hollinshead’s laptop, which contained 1,534 indecent images of children. These images ranged from level one (least severe) to level five (most severe), with 1,078 at level one, 76 at level two, 137 at level three, 241 at level four, and two at level five. Authorities also discovered a number of extreme images, seven videos, and printed stories related to the sexual abuse of children, indicating a disturbing obsession with such material.

During sentencing, Judge Granville Styler condemned Hollinshead’s actions, stating, “There is clear evidence of sophisticated grooming of children under the age of 13. And it was all for your own sexual gratification. Your offending has had a profound effect on the parents and the victims. I take the view you are a paedophile who poses a risk to young girls.” The court imposed a sexual offences prevention order, restricting Hollinshead from engaging in conversations with minors under 18 and from using the internet or social networking sites. Furthermore, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to the community.