MICHAEL COLLINS SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN ERDINGTON AND NORTHFIELD

In a case that has spanned over three decades, Michael Collins, a man residing in Erdington, has been convicted and sentenced for the sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl. The incident took place in 1986, when the young girl was staying at Collins' home in Northfield along with her friend. During that time, Collins committed the heinous acts while his wife and newborn baby were asleep in another room, unaware of his actions.

According to court records, Collins raped the girl on two separate occasions. Following the assaults, he used threats to silence her, claiming to possess a firearm and warning that if she disclosed what had happened, she would be taken into care. These threats were intended to intimidate and prevent her from speaking out about the abuse.

The victim, who is now in her late 40s, only recently found the strength to come forward and report the abuse to the police, doing so two years prior to her court appearance. Her courage in revealing the traumatic events after so many years has brought justice in this case.

Michael Collins, aged 64, of Springthorpe Green in Erdington, was brought before Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, 30 April. The court found him guilty of two counts of rape, and he was subsequently sentenced to 17 years in prison. In addition to his prison sentence, Collins has been ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to protect the community from potential future harm.