MARIE CLARKE'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN BOOTLE: CHILD ABUSE AND TORTURE REVEALED

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Bootle, Marie Clarke, a woman with a dark history of child abuse, has been convicted of heinous crimes committed against her young daughter. The abuse, which spanned several years, involved a series of brutal acts that left deep scars on the victim, who was only five years old when the torment began.

Marie Clarke, now 60 years old, was living in Bootle at the time of her sentencing. She had previously been detained in a Category D open prison and was scheduled for release in July 2017. Her criminal activities, however, date back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the abuse reportedly starting in May 1978 and continuing until May 1985.

The court heard that Clarke, who worked as a mortgage adviser at the Halifax Building Society in Liverpool, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of sexual assault and sixteen counts of child cruelty. The severity of her actions was laid bare during the trial, revealing a pattern of relentless cruelty and sexual abuse inflicted upon her young daughter.

The victim, who is now an adult, broke down in tears at Liverpool Crown Court as she recounted her suffering. She described how Clarke’s campaign of abuse robbed her of her childhood, with the judge, Mr. Justice Warnock, condemning Clarke for her persistent cruelty. The judge sentenced Clarke to six years and eight months in prison, emphasizing the gravity of her crimes.

It was revealed that the abuse was first reported to Merseyside Police and a medical professional in 1985, but no action was taken at that time. It was only in 2013, after the victim returned to the police and re-reported the abuse, that investigations resumed. The victim, who had kept detailed notes of her suffering, finally found justice after years of silence.

The court proceedings detailed the horrific acts committed by Clarke, including burning her daughter with a hot light bulb, forcing her to drink salt water as a form of punishment, and physically assaulting her with objects such as a hammer, a cast iron frying pan, and a shoe. Clarke also inflicted emotional and sexual abuse, using tweezers to pluck hairs and making her daughter suck her breasts. The victim was subjected to violent head-banging, smothering with a pillow, and being held underwater in a bath, all of which caused her immense fear and trauma.

Throughout the trial, the court was shown evidence of the victim’s personal notes, which documented her suffering and the ongoing torment inflicted by Clarke. The victim’s courage in speaking out at the age of 12, after yet another assault involving head-banging and punching, was highlighted as a pivotal moment in her journey towards justice.

Despite Clarke’s confessions to her general practitioner about her abusive behavior, no formal follow-up was conducted at the time. It was only after the victim obtained her medical and social services records that she was able to provide a comprehensive account to the police in recent years.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Warnock expressed sympathy for the victim, stating, “She clearly felt worthless, unwanted and not believed. If it is any comfort, she is believed now.” Clarke was also ordered to register as a sex offender for the remainder of her life, underscoring the seriousness of her crimes and the lasting impact on her victim.