KIERAN HUELIN AND LAURA CRANK FROM DUABHILL AND FARNWORTH SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Farnworth and Duabhill, a man named Kieran Huelin has been convicted and sentenced for heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of a vulnerable young girl. The incident took place in June 2012, and the repercussions of this case have resonated deeply within the community and beyond.

Huelin, aged 28 at the time, was found guilty of luring a 13-year-old girl to his flat in Farnworth, where he and his former partner, Laura Crank, aged 26, engaged in a series of abusive acts. The court heard that the girl, who had recently fallen out with her mother, was manipulated into visiting the couple’s residence on Brookhouse Avenue. Once there, she was given seven or eight cans of lager along with amphetamines, substances that were used to impair her judgment and facilitate the abuse.

The court described how the girl was made to lie on a mattress in the living room while Huelin and Crank engaged in sexual activities in her presence. When she attempted to turn her head away, Crank forcibly held her head to ensure she continued watching. The abuse escalated later in the evening when the girl was pressured into having sex with Huelin. The court was shown evidence of the trauma inflicted upon her, including a victim impact statement that revealed she would “never forget” what she endured and continues to face personal difficulties as a result of the abuse.

During the trial, the prosecution’s representative, Darren Preston, questioned Huelin about his relationship with the children, to which Huelin responded aggressively, denying any paedophilic tendencies. He stated, “No, did I hell. Do you think I am that sick? You are accusing me of being a paedophile. I am not a paedophile. You are annoying me now.”

Judge Timothy Clayson, presiding over the case at Bolton Crown Court, sentenced Huelin to four and a half years in prison for sexual activity with a child. Additionally, he received a concurrent two-year sentence for engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. The court also imposed an indefinite ban on Huelin from being alone with female children, reflecting the severity of his crimes.

Crank’s case was adjourned for further investigations, and she is scheduled to appear before Bolton Crown Court again in August. It was also revealed that Huelin had been living in Seaton Delaval after his release, but it appears he has already moved on from that location. The community remains concerned about the safety of children and the ongoing efforts to prevent such abuse from happening again.