KARL HIGGINS FROM WAVERTREE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN LIVERPOOL

In January 2002, a man from Wavertree, Liverpool, was handed a severe prison sentence after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving young girls. Karl Higgins, aged 40, was found guilty of sexually abusing two young girls and engaging in the production and distribution of indecent photographs of children. The court heard that Higgins had committed a series of disturbing acts, including raping one of the victims and taking explicit photographs of both girls without their consent.

His crimes came to light under unusual circumstances. Higgins had left his computer with a former housemate as collateral to settle an outstanding phone bill. When the housemate examined the device, he was horrified to discover over 1,000 pornographic images and videos depicting children, some of whom were infants only a few months old. This discovery prompted immediate police involvement.

Law enforcement officials traced the images back to Higgins and subsequently located and interviewed the two young girls involved. The victims confirmed that Higgins had sexually abused them and had taken indecent photographs of their private moments. The evidence was overwhelming, leading to Higgins’s guilty plea on multiple charges.

During the court proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, Higgins was convicted of three counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault, one count of gross indecency, and six charges related to the making, possession, and distribution of indecent and pseudo-photographs of children. The judge, David Swift, sentenced Higgins to 12 years in prison. Additionally, upon release, Higgins will be subject to an extended license period of five years and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

Defense attorney Geoffrey Lowe expressed that Higgins harbors genuine feelings of self-disgust over his actions, but the court’s verdict underscores the severity of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect the community.