MICHAEL HICKMAN FROM HEMLINGTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN TEESSIDE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Hemlington and the wider Teesside area, Michael Hickman, aged 43, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of multiple counts of child sexual abuse. The crimes, which spanned several years, involved the systematic assault of two young girls, both now aged 12, who have since been receiving professional counselling to cope with the profound psychological trauma they endured.

Hickman’s actions came to light after the girls disclosed the abuse, leading to a police investigation that uncovered a disturbing pattern of sexual misconduct. Prosecutor Adrian Strong detailed that Hickman had committed acts of rape and sexual assault on both girls, with the abuse occurring between 2005 and the previous year. One particularly egregious incident involved Hickman performing a serious sexual act on one of the girls inside a shelter located in Middlesbrough’s Stewart Park.

During the sentencing hearing at Teesside Crown Court on Friday, Hickman was handed an indefinite prison sentence, with a minimum term of five years, eleven months, and sixteen days before he could be considered for parole. The judge presiding over the case, Michael Taylor, expressed his condemnation of Hickman’s actions, stating, “You have robbed these two girls of their innocence, they are both suffering the effects of that now. They are coming into adolescence with confused messages about what is right and what is wrong, and they are going to have to pick up the pieces of what you have created in them.”

Judge Taylor further emphasized the ongoing danger Hickman posed, asserting, “I am satisfied that you do pose a substantial risk of causing significant harm to children in future.” The court’s decision also included a comprehensive order designed to prevent Hickman from reoffending, which is an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order. This order prohibits him from having contact with children under 16, entering public parks, or possessing recording equipment that could be used to facilitate further abuse.

In his defense, Hickman’s solicitor, Paul Cleasby, explained that his client had taken responsibility early on by pleading guilty, thereby sparing the victims and their families additional suffering. Cleasby stated, “He knows that he is going to receive a significant sentence, and he knows that he deserves to serve it. He pleaded guilty in the hope that will save further trauma and further embarrassment, and he is anxious to take part in any course that is offered to him.”

Hickman, who resides in Arrondale, Hemlington, admitted to five counts of rape and five counts of sexual assault involving the two girls. The court’s verdict underscores the severity of his crimes and the lasting impact on the victims, who are now navigating their adolescence with the scars of his abuse. The community and the families affected are left to grapple with the aftermath of this disturbing case, which highlights the importance of vigilance and protective measures for vulnerable children in the area.