KEITH ASWORTH JAILED FOR LIFE IN BRAYSTONES AND LONGSIGHT CHILD ABUSE CASE

In a chilling case that has shocked the local communities of Braystones and Longsight, a 65-year-old man named Keith Ashworth has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving the abuse of young children.

Ashworth, a pensioner with a disturbing history of sexual offenses, admitted to a lengthy list of charges that included one count of child rape and two counts of attempted child rape. The victims ranged from infants under the age of five to children under three years old, highlighting the severity and depravity of his actions.

The court proceedings revealed that Ashworth had also recorded videos of his victims’ suffering, further demonstrating his malicious intent and the extent of his criminal behavior. In total, he pleaded guilty to 12 sex offenses, and during the hearing at Carlisle Crown Court, he requested that an additional 57 offenses be considered in his case, many of which related to a collection of approximately 3,000 obscene images stored on his personal computer.

Investigations uncovered that Ashworth had targeted three young victims over a period spanning from June 1994 to July 2006. His criminal activities were not limited to direct abuse; the authorities also found disturbing evidence of indecent images, including 274 categorized as the most severe, involving children being sexually abused by adults.

Originally, Ashworth faced a charge related to an alleged incident involving his pet dog; however, this was dropped due to the gravity of the crimes committed against children. The court heard detailed accounts of his offenses, which included one count of rape, two counts of attempted rape, three counts of indecent assault, two counts of sexual assault, and multiple counts of producing and possessing indecent images.

Throughout the trial, Ashworth’s background as a handyman and his frequent visits to West Cumbria—particularly staying at Tarnside Caravan Park in Braystones—were noted. Despite his regular visits, his true nature was revealed through the evidence presented in court.

Judge Paul Batty QC delivered a stern warning to Ashworth, stating, “You have admitted a catalogue of grievous crimes against youngsters. A very, very heavy sentence awaits you in respect of these offenses. They’re about as serious as I have ever seen.”

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Paul Smith expressed confidence that all of Ashworth’s victims had been identified. He emphasized the disturbing nature of the evidence, noting that it required the efforts of about eight officers to handle and that the material was so severe that all involved had undergone mandatory counseling.

Inspector Smith further described Ashworth as a highly dangerous individual, stating, “Ashworth is a very dangerous man. It’s apparent from the judge’s comments that this man is going to be removed from the streets for some time.”

As part of his sentence, Ashworth has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and informed that he will serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars, ensuring he remains incarcerated for a significant period to protect the community from further harm.