HOWARD BURDON FROM BRIDLINGTON SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN HULL
In September 2016, a tragic case unfolded at Hull Crown Court involving Howard Burdon, a man from Bridlington who was convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses against a young girl.Despite Burdon's ongoing battle with a terminal blood cancer, the court determined that justice must be served, leading to a substantial prison sentence.
Howard Burdon, aged 52, was found guilty of ten separate charges related to sexual assault and engaging in sexual activities with a minor.
The court heard that Burdon had subjected the young girl to a prolonged campaign of abuse, which included administering sleeping tablets to her before assaulting her.
At the time of the offenses, Burdon was undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham for his blood cancer, a condition that was acknowledged as incurable but not immediately life-threatening.
The court was presented with a victim impact statement in which the young girl described the profound and lasting effects of the abuse.
She revealed that she suffers from nightmares most nights, and her mental health has been severely impacted.
Her boyfriend has been supportive, but the relationship has been strained due to her trauma.
She also disclosed that she struggles with bulimia and anxiety, especially in crowded situations, and that she constantly thinks about the abuse.
The girl is currently receiving counseling to cope with her experiences.
Police were alerted to the abuse early in the morning of May 13, after a phone call from the girl’s partner.
The girl later made a formal complaint, revealing that the abuse had been ongoing for several years.
Prosecutor David Gordon told the court that after the initial incident, Burdon had warned the girl not to tell anyone, threatening that he would go to prison if she did.
He also encouraged her to take sleeping pills, sometimes crushing them into her drinks, which she described as having a bitter taste.
The girl stated that these actions left her feeling scared and dirty.
During police interviews, Burdon, who resides on Richmond Street in Bridlington, claimed that he believed he was not harming anyone because the abuse occurred while the girl was asleep.
His defense was met with strong opposition from the court, which emphasized the severity of his actions.
In mitigation, Burdon’s lawyer, Paul Norton, acknowledged the shamefulness of his client’s behavior, describing it as disgusting and expressing that Burdon felt genuine remorse.
Norton also highlighted Burdon’s serious health condition, noting that he has a life-threatening illness that is likely to shorten his lifespan, though it is not expected to cause death imminently.
Judge Mark Bury, presiding over the case, made it clear that there was no alternative but to impose a lengthy prison sentence.
He stated, “You obtained significant sexual gratification.
You have blood cancer which is incurable and you suffer from pain.
But we know this offending merits a significant period of imprisonment.” As a result, Burdon was sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to six years for each of the ten offenses.
Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.
