JASON DOWNEY'S SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IN RAINHILL AND HUYTON REVEALED

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Rainhill and Huyton, Jason Downey, aged 48, was convicted of heinous crimes committed against young children during the 1980s. The court heard that Downey, a resident of Trent Close in Rainhill, had molested three innocent children when he was just 15 years old. His victims included a boy aged three or four, a girl under the age of 10, and another girl also under 10, all of whom suffered unimaginable trauma at his hands.

The Liverpool Crown Court was told that Downey had committed these acts in Huyton, a suburb close to Rainhill, where the abuse took place decades ago. The court proceedings revealed the extent of his crimes, which included rape and sexual assault, and the lasting impact they had on his victims. Despite his current status as a father of three, Downey’s dark past was laid bare during the sentencing.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, addressed Downey directly, emphasizing the long-held secret that he had kept for many years. The judge stated, “For many years, indeed decades, you held onto a dark secret. You’re not the only one who has kept these offences stored in the mind — so have your victims, who were such a tender age when you sexually abused them.” The gravity of the crimes was underscored by the judge’s comments, highlighting the profound and lifelong scars inflicted upon the victims.

One of the victims, now an adult woman, recounted her traumatic experience to the court. She described how Downey had rubbed himself against her, made her touch him, and performed sexual acts before raping her. She recalled that Downey once destroyed her teddy bear in a cruel act. The woman expressed her ongoing suffering, stating, “I hate Downey for what he did to me. He took away my childhood, my innocence and affected me for the rest of my life.” She detailed how the abuse left her feeling like sex was “nothing,” and how she struggled to form healthy relationships, feeling that the trauma was her fault.

Another victim, a young boy at the time, described how Downey stripped him naked to play a “man and woman game,” forced him to perform a sexual act, and then raped him. Now an adult, he shared that he had kept his ordeal secret for years, feeling confused and questioning his own sexuality. He explained that the abuse had caused him to avoid roles involving close contact with children, fearing he might be like Downey. The trauma had also led to persistent nightmares and emotional struggles, affecting his relationship with his own son.

The second girl, who was also under 10 at the time, revealed that Downey once touched her bottom but chose not to give a formal victim statement due to embarrassment. She described the experience as “really horrible” and expressed the difficulty of talking about it.

During the investigation, Downey admitted to police that he was sorry for his actions. He claimed that he did not intend to hurt his victims but confessed that he “couldn’t help himself.” He faced nine counts of gross indecency with a child, two of which would now be classified as rape under current law. His criminal record also includes convictions for obtaining property by deception, theft, and possessing cannabis in 1990.

Judge Aubrey acknowledged the complexity of sentencing such a case, describing it as “an extremely difficult sentencing exercise.” He emphasized that Downey’s actions had robbed his victims of their childhood, happiness, and innocence, leaving them scarred for life. The judge stated, “You have scarred them all greatly and, in truth, given to them a life sentence.”

However, the judge also took into account Downey’s age at the time of the offenses, his background, and a psychiatric report indicating that he came from a dysfunctional family with little parental support. The report suggested that neglect during his formative years likely impaired his understanding of the wrongfulness of his actions. While the court did not accept that Downey was entirely unaware of the harm he caused, it recognized that his lack of guidance and development reduced his culpability.

Judge Aubrey noted that Downey had since worked hard, raised a family, and had not committed further crimes. He expressed that Downey appeared remorseful and had shown abhorrence for his past misconduct. Nevertheless, the court determined that a significant reduction in sentencing was appropriate, given his age and circumstances at the time of the offenses.

Considering sentencing guidelines, the maximum sentence for a single count of gross indecency at the time was 10 years, with a maximum of 12 months in youth custody for a 15-year-old. The judge initially considered a six-year prison term after a trial but, factoring in Downey’s guilty plea, reduced this to four and a half years. As Downey was visibly distressed and crying, Judge Aubrey ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, marking the conclusion of a case that has left a lasting impact on the victims and the community of Rainhill and Huyton.