JOSEPH DONLEY SHAMES BOLTON WITH SEX OFFENCES FROM OVER 20 YEARS AGO

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Bolton community, Joseph Donley, a 62-year-old former hiking leader associated with the Bolton Lads and Girls Club, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of serious sexual offences committed more than two decades ago.

Donley's crimes date back to the early 1980s, when he was actively involved in leading weekend hiking trips for young boys at the Bolton Lads Club. It was during these excursions that he first met his young victim, who was only 12 years old at the time. Over the course of their interactions, Donley would take the boy on hikes and, on occasion, invite him back to his residence on Bembridge Drive, Darcy Lever, Bolton.

Initially, these visits appeared innocent, with no inappropriate conduct occurring during the first few outings. However, the situation changed when, during a later visit, the boy discovered pornographic magazines scattered around Donley's house. The court was told that Donley joined the boy as he looked at the magazines, and it was at this point that his pattern of sexual abuse began.

Despite the abuse, the victim remained silent for an astonishing 21 years. It was only after he confided in his wife that he decided to confront his abuser. The emotional toll of the abuse was profound, leading to the breakdown of his marriage and ongoing psychological struggles. When he finally confronted Donley in March of the previous year, the encounter was tense and revealing.

On that day, the victim, now 35, approached Donley while he was standing in his driveway talking with a neighbor. He calmly stated, “I want a word with you,” prompting Donley to ask who he was. The victim responded, “You must recognise me — you abused me.”

According to reports, Donley then attempted to bribe his former victim, offering him £15,000 to cover the costs of his divorce or a family holiday. The victim refused these offers and, in a desperate plea, Donley begged him not to report the matter to the police, citing concern for his 93-year-old mother. Despite these pleas, the victim chose to contact law enforcement authorities, leading to Donley's arrest.

During the subsequent trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Donley was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault. However, he was acquitted of four other charges, including serious sexual offences and one count of indecency with a child. On Thursday, Judge Adrian Smith sentenced Donley to four years in prison and ordered him to pay prosecution costs amounting to £1,616.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, expressed his feelings after the trial. He stated, “What happened to me destroyed my life. I’ve been married and I’ve got kids but I could never really let anyone get close to me. I wanted to be able to move on. I’d had counselling and was on anti-depressants, but I knew the only way I could get my life back was if I went to the police, which I did last March.”

He further explained the difficulty of revealing his past, saying, “I found it very hard to tell people what had happened to me. This was something I’d kept to myself for more than 20 years. My ex-partner and I approached Donley at his home. He was still living in the same place. At first, he acted as if he didn’t know me and denied it, but then he admitted what he’d done. He went on to deny it to the police. I would have liked him to have got longer, but I now know I’ve done everything I can do to put this behind me and he is not controlling my life any more.”