IAN GREENALL BURNLEY PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE

In a case that has shocked the community of Burnley, Ian Greenall, aged 47, of Hillside, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 15 years after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving young children. The court heard that Greenall had committed a series of sexual offenses, including raping a young girl on five separate occasions and carrying out sexual assaults on two other children. The severity and brutality of his actions have left lasting scars on his victims and have prompted a strong response from the justice system.

During the sentencing at Burnley Crown Court, the judge emphasized the devastating impact Greenall's actions had on his main victim, who was only six years old at the time of the assault. A harrowing victim impact statement was read aloud, revealing the profound emotional damage inflicted by Greenall. The victim described Greenall as “proper sick,” and characterized her experience as “horrendous.” She expressed that despite his conviction, she did not feel any sense of closure, stating that the trauma of giving evidence was “traumatic and terrifying,” and that she continues to live with the consequences of his abuse.

Greenall’s criminal record includes five counts of rape, 14 counts of indecent assault, and two charges of indecency with a child concerning the primary victim. Additionally, he faced charges related to indecent assault against a second girl and three counts of indecency with a third girl. The offenses took place across the towns of Burnley and Nelson, with some of the charges involving disturbing acts such as encouraging a dog to attempt to sexually molest the victim, although the animal refused each time.

Prior to his arrest and trial, Greenall was employed by Biffa and a fireplace company in Brierfield. His life took a drastic turn after an industrial accident left him partially disabled. Throughout the proceedings, Greenall maintained that the charges were part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the young girls involved, a claim that was firmly rejected by the court.

Judge Andrew Woolman delivered a stern verdict, condemning Greenall’s attitude towards young girls and his exploitation of their vulnerability. The judge remarked that Greenall had been “living on borrowed time” since the offenses, highlighting the gravity of his crimes. Addressing the impact on the primary victim, the judge stated, “You completely took her over, inflicting lasting psychological damage on her. It’s clear she is an emotional wreck and that’s all your doing. Whether she is able to recover from all that in future, I don’t know, but if she does it will be no thanks to you.”

As part of his sentence, Greenall was placed on the sex offender register for life, and he was indefinitely barred from working with children. A lifetime sexual offences prevention order was also issued, restricting his contact with any child under 16 unless supervised, and prohibiting him from living in areas without informing authorities beforehand. Furthermore, he is forbidden from attending sports, educational, or leisure facilities where he might come into contact with children under 16, and he is not allowed to enter any residence where children under that age are present.

Defense lawyer Ken Hind pointed out that Greenall had not offended in over 12 years and suffers from health issues such as angina, heart disease, and depression. Hind also noted that Greenall’s family and friends continue to support him, emphasizing the limited future he faces due to his health and the consequences of his actions.

Following the sentencing, retired Detective Constable Paul Hanson, who led the investigation, underscored the importance of victim bravery and the police’s commitment to pursuing sexual abuse cases regardless of the time elapsed. Hanson highlighted that the case was built solely on the courage of the victims, as there was no scientific evidence or DNA to support the charges, making their testimonies all the more significant.