JAMES MCLAUGHLIN OF HEATON FAILS TO CLEAR HIS NAME AFTER SEXUAL OFFENCES IN CITY
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Heaton Child Sexual Abuser
In March 2014, James McLaughlin, known as Rob, a paedophile from Heaton, failed in his bid to overturn his convictions related to multiple sexual offenses. McLaughlin, aged 52, was sentenced to three years in October 2012 after being found guilty by a jury of two counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of attempted sexual activity, and one count of sexual assault.
McLaughlin, residing on Beverley Road, Heaton, appealed to the Court of Appeal, claiming he had been set up by the four boys who accused him. The court was told that the four youths had reported instances of sexual abuse occurring at McLaughlin’s home between 2009 and 2011. Despite these testimonies, McLaughlin argued that the boys had conspired to produce false allegations and that he had been wrongly denied the opportunity to present evidence that he believed would support his case.
One piece of evidence involved a report on one of the boys, referred to as 'A'—who McLaughlin claimed was the primary instigator of the false accusations. The report indicated that this boy was prone to lying. Additionally, McLaughlin pointed out that this same boy had inquired about possible compensation during a visit to the crown court prior to his trial.
However, Lord Justices Keith and Spencer dismissed his appeal, stating that McLaughlin had little chance of successfully challenging his convictions. Lord Justice Keith remarked, 'The claim that the boys had colluded with each other was seriously undermined by the fact that one of them had complained to family members before A had even been involved with McLaughlin.' As a result, the court upheld all of McLaughlin’s convictions.
This legal setback followed earlier sentencing in October 2012, when McLaughlin was jailed for three years for grooming boys by buying them cigarettes. At Bolton Crown Court, prosecutors revealed that McLaughlin showed no remorse after his conviction and even threatened to 'seek out and deal with' those who had accused him upon his release. Defense lawyer Michael Maher characterized these threats as idle and emphasized that McLaughlin, currently 50 and living on Beverley Road, had already been ostracized by his family.
During the trial, McLaughlin denied allegations of sexual activity with a 13- and a 14-year-old boy, and the sexual assault of an 11-year-old, alongside sexual attempted acts with a 15-year-old. The court also learned that McLaughlin had a previous conviction from 1988 for indecent assault on a boy.
Describing his health issues, Mr. Maher noted that McLaughlin suffers from depression and high blood pressure, expressing concern that his prison sentence might be brief enough for him to say goodbye to his mother, who suffers from dementia. The judge, Recorder Timothy Stead, imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, banning McLaughlin from having any boys under 16 in his home, restricting contact with minors unless supervised by an adult, and prohibiting contact with his victims. McLaughlin is also barred from working with children and was placed on the sex offenders register.
Earlier in August 2012, a controversy arose when McLaughlin’s defense legal team referred to one of the boys as a 'walking infection,' suggesting he had heard rumors of McLaughlin being a sex offender. During that hearing, it was also noted that McLaughlin had been fined £80 in 1985 for indecent assault. McLaughlin continues to deny two counts of sexual activity with a child, one of attempted sexual activity with a child, and a sexual assault allegation, with the case ongoing.
McLaughlin, residing on Beverley Road, Heaton, appealed to the Court of Appeal, claiming he had been set up by the four boys who accused him. The court was told that the four youths had reported instances of sexual abuse occurring at McLaughlin’s home between 2009 and 2011. Despite these testimonies, McLaughlin argued that the boys had conspired to produce false allegations and that he had been wrongly denied the opportunity to present evidence that he believed would support his case.
One piece of evidence involved a report on one of the boys, referred to as 'A'—who McLaughlin claimed was the primary instigator of the false accusations. The report indicated that this boy was prone to lying. Additionally, McLaughlin pointed out that this same boy had inquired about possible compensation during a visit to the crown court prior to his trial.
However, Lord Justices Keith and Spencer dismissed his appeal, stating that McLaughlin had little chance of successfully challenging his convictions. Lord Justice Keith remarked, 'The claim that the boys had colluded with each other was seriously undermined by the fact that one of them had complained to family members before A had even been involved with McLaughlin.' As a result, the court upheld all of McLaughlin’s convictions.
This legal setback followed earlier sentencing in October 2012, when McLaughlin was jailed for three years for grooming boys by buying them cigarettes. At Bolton Crown Court, prosecutors revealed that McLaughlin showed no remorse after his conviction and even threatened to 'seek out and deal with' those who had accused him upon his release. Defense lawyer Michael Maher characterized these threats as idle and emphasized that McLaughlin, currently 50 and living on Beverley Road, had already been ostracized by his family.
During the trial, McLaughlin denied allegations of sexual activity with a 13- and a 14-year-old boy, and the sexual assault of an 11-year-old, alongside sexual attempted acts with a 15-year-old. The court also learned that McLaughlin had a previous conviction from 1988 for indecent assault on a boy.
Describing his health issues, Mr. Maher noted that McLaughlin suffers from depression and high blood pressure, expressing concern that his prison sentence might be brief enough for him to say goodbye to his mother, who suffers from dementia. The judge, Recorder Timothy Stead, imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, banning McLaughlin from having any boys under 16 in his home, restricting contact with minors unless supervised by an adult, and prohibiting contact with his victims. McLaughlin is also barred from working with children and was placed on the sex offenders register.
Earlier in August 2012, a controversy arose when McLaughlin’s defense legal team referred to one of the boys as a 'walking infection,' suggesting he had heard rumors of McLaughlin being a sex offender. During that hearing, it was also noted that McLaughlin had been fined £80 in 1985 for indecent assault. McLaughlin continues to deny two counts of sexual activity with a child, one of attempted sexual activity with a child, and a sexual assault allegation, with the case ongoing.