NICHOLAS PATRICK FROM DEVON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN LIVERPOOL

A Devon man named Nicholas Patrick, aged 39, who committed sexual offenses as a child, has told a judge that he is "not a bad person" and is "ready to accept punishment." Patrick admitted to raping and indecently assaulting young children in Devon and the Wirral area of Liverpool. Liverpool Crown Court heard that Patrick abused a young boy and girl in the late 1990s and early 2000s, while he himself was also a child during some of these incidents. There was a third child targeted, but he was not charged in connection with her because he was under the age of criminal responsibility at the time. Prosecutor Olivia Beesley explained that his victims were as young as two years old when the abuse began, and that the abuse continued over several years until he was 17. One of the assaults only stopped after the victim pretended to be sick. In court, a victim shared how he turned to drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms later in life, saying: "Even now, each week is a battle to overcome obstacles." Another victim said: "I was fearful of Nick. He would warn me that if anyone found out, I would be in trouble. I was too scared to tell anyone what was happening. The longer I kept the secret, the harder it was. Even as an adult, I have nightmares about Nick now and then. Nothing can change what happened to me or what the others have endured; we just want justice. All the wounds have been reopened." When allegations were first reported, Patrick denied them, claiming they were "a fabrication" and accused the victims of collusion. His defense included a letter from him expressing remorse, in which he acknowledged that as a child he did not consider the impact of his actions and lamented the damage caused. He also reflected on his life since, stating he has worked to help others, built several businesses, supported his family, and lived under the weight of his past. Patrick pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to four counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault. He appeared via video link from HMP Liverpool, dressed in a prison tracksuit. He was sentenced to nine years in prison, with a requirement to serve two-thirds before being eligible for release on license. He was also issued a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, notification requirements, and indefinite restraining orders preventing contact with his victims. The judge emphasized the seriousness of his crimes and their profound effect on the victims’ lives. It was noted that Patrick’s offending spanned his childhood and adolescence, he had not reoffended since he was 17, but continued to face the consequences of his past actions.