KIRK HENSON FROM HOWSHAM AND BARRROW-UPON-HUMBER SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Barrow-upon-Humber and Howsham, a man named Kirk Henson has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offences committed against two young girls. The court heard that Henson, aged 24, who was formerly residing in Barrow-upon-Humber but later moved to Skipworth Mount, Howsham, near North Kelsey, was found guilty of a total of 24 criminal charges after a rigorous two-week trial. Despite denying any wrongdoing, the jury convicted him of multiple serious offences, including four counts of raping one of the girls, six counts of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13, eight counts of creating indecent images of children, possessing 37 indecent images, and possessing an extreme pornographic film.

During the sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC delivered a stern condemnation of Henson’s actions. He described the account of abuse presented during the trial as “appalling” and emphasized the severity of the crimes committed. The judge stated, “The jury has had to listen to an appalling account of sexual abuse by you. You must be punished severely for the truly wicked sexual abuse.” He further expressed his belief that Henson’s actions revealed a perverted desire for children, describing him unequivocally as a paedophile.

Judge Richardson explained that Henson’s initial gratification appeared to stem from viewing indecent images of children on his computer, which he then acted upon by abusing the children directly. The judge remarked, “It is plain to me that you had a perverted appetite for children. I have absolutely no doubt that the facts of this case reveal you to be a paedophile. There can be no doubt that, at first, you satisfied your perverted lusts by viewing indecent images of children on your computer. You then took advantage of the situation by putting into practice those perverted lusts.” The judge described the abuse as “almost beyond description,” emphasizing the shocking nature of Henson’s crimes against two innocent children.

Throughout the trial, Henson attempted to shift blame, making “outrageous allegations” and accusing other men of downloading the images and abusing the girls. Judge Richardson condemned his actions, calling him “a truly wicked man,” and expressed that no words could adequately convey the revulsion felt by any right-minded person towards such serious offences.

As part of his sentence, Henson was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was permanently banned from working with children. Julian Goose QC, who represented Henson during mitigation, noted that Henson had only two unrelated previous convictions and that the offences occurred over a relatively short period. Henson had spent 216 days in custody and intends to seek rehabilitative help while incarcerated.

Following the sentencing, Det Con Katie Mann of the Scunthorpe child protection team commented on the case, describing it as “harrowing” to investigate over an extended period. She expressed satisfaction that justice had been served for the two young victims, stating, “It’s very rewarding that justice has been served for the two girls involved.” The case officer also highlighted the seriousness of Henson’s crimes by noting the lengthy sentence reflects the gravity of his actions.

Judge Richardson took the opportunity to commend Det Con Mann and others who supported the victims after their ordeal. He also excused the jury from further service for ten years, citing the “awful nature” of the case, which left a lasting impact on all involved.