PHILIP CUNNINGHAM FROM CHADDESDEN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST YOUNG GIRL IN DERBY

In April 2019, a disturbing case emerged involving a man named Philip Cunningham, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl in Chaddesden, Derby. The victim, who was under the age of 10 at the time, courageously came forward more than two decades after the incident, revealing the details of her traumatic experience and shedding light on a long history of unreported abuse.

According to court reports, the assault took place in the 1990s when the girl was visiting Roe Farm Community Centre in Chaddesden to watch her older brother play football. During this outing, she found herself alone with Cunningham, who was then in his 20s. Cunningham, a local resident of Matlock Road, approached her in an isolated area near the community centre. Without warning, he grabbed her and pinned her down, initiating a sexual assault described by the victim as both forceful and frightening. She recounted feeling pain and terror during the attack, which she described as very rough and very frightening.

The girl attempted to resist, but Cunningham's strength overpowered her. After the assault, she managed to escape and confided in someone about what had happened. Unfortunately, her account was not believed at the time, and she was left to carry the burden of her trauma for over 30 years. The emotional scars from this incident have profoundly affected her adult life, as she detailed in a victim impact statement. She described suffering from nightmares, anxiety, and depression, and noted that the incident had made her an angry child, with lasting effects on her relationships and overall well-being.

It was only in March 2018, after reading a newspaper article about Cunningham’s conviction for other sexual offences, that she decided to report her own experience to the police. Cunningham, who was then serving a 13-year sentence for raping a woman in Darley Park in 2004 and sexually assaulting a teenage girl in September 2017, was identified as her attacker through this new investigation.

In April 2019, Cunningham appeared at Derby Crown Court to face charges related to the historic assault. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against a girl under the age of 10. The court was told that Cunningham’s victim, now in her 30s, had approached the police after reading about his previous convictions. The police confirmed that DNA evidence linked Cunningham to the 2004 rape in Darley Park, where he had followed a woman, pulled her into a wooded area, and assaulted her, threatening her and making lewd remarks. The same DNA evidence also connected him to a sexual assault on a teenage girl in Derby city centre in September 2017.

During the hearing, the prosecution detailed how Cunningham’s actions had caused lasting trauma. The victim described her nightmares, emotional distress, and the impact on her adult relationships. The court heard that Cunningham’s history of offending was extensive, and his pattern of predatory behaviour was evident.

Judge Jason MacAdam, presiding over the case, acknowledged the seriousness of Cunningham’s offences. He stated that if he had been sentencing Cunningham solely for the recent offences, he would have imposed a six-year prison term. However, given Cunningham’s ongoing incarceration for other crimes, the judge decided to add an additional two years to his sentence, bringing the total to 15 years. The judge emphasized Cunningham’s failure to admit guilt earlier and urged any other potential victims to come forward and seek justice.

Prosecutor Mark Achurch highlighted that Cunningham’s victim had come forward after reading about his previous convictions in Derbyshire Live and the Derby Telegraph. The court was also informed about Cunningham’s earlier conviction for a 2004 rape, which involved following a woman in Darley Park, assaulting her, and raping her in a wooded area. The victim in that case was a woman in her 30s who was followed and attacked while walking in the park.

Additionally, Cunningham faced charges related to a sexual assault on a teenage girl in Derby city centre in September 2017. She was walking from college to meet her mother when Cunningham followed her, complimented her on her boots, and then led her into an alleyway where he sexually assaulted her. The court adjourned sentencing until March 12, allowing for further consideration of Cunningham’s criminal history and the severity of his offences.

Overall, the case underscores the importance of victims coming forward, even after many years, and highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring offenders to justice, regardless of the passage of time.