RICHARD PICKERING FROM BARROW SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In a case that has shocked the community of Barrow, Richard Thomas Pickering, a 23-year-old man residing on Athol Street, was handed down a prison sentence after admitting to a series of serious sexual offences committed during his teenage years.The offences involved a young girl who was only nine years old at the time of the incidents.
Pickering appeared before Barrow Crown Court for sentencing, where he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault on a female under the age of 13, as well as one count of assault by penetration.
The crimes took place over a period when Pickering was between 15 and 16 years old, highlighting a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior during his adolescence.
Her Honour Judge Jacqueline Beech emphasized the profound psychological impact these offences have had on the victim.
During the hearing, a victim impact statement was read aloud, revealing the ongoing trauma experienced by the girl, who is now 16 years old.
She described suffering from persistent sleep disturbances and frequent flashbacks, sometimes experiencing up to five episodes in a single day.
The statement also disclosed that she engages in self-harm, wears loose clothing to conceal her body, and finds it difficult to envision forming romantic relationships with men in the future.
Throughout the court proceedings, it was revealed that Pickering had previously attempted to justify his actions by claiming that the girl, then aged between nine and ten, had consented to what he termed as 'sexual experimentation.' However, Judge Beech was clear in her assessment, stating that the victim was a vulnerable young girl who had trusted Pickering.
She described the offences as a calculated course of conduct involving grooming, which significantly breached that trust.
It was also noted that the incidents were only reported to authorities years later, after the victim attended sex education classes at her school, which prompted her to come forward.
In a statement submitted by Pickering’s family, they requested that the court consider a non-custodial sentence, describing him as 'not resilient and vulnerable' and characterizing the attacks as 'uncharacteristic' of his usual behavior.
Ultimately, Judge Beech sentenced Pickering to a total of 27 months in prison for the charge of assault by penetration, with an additional 12 months for the sexual assault charges.
These sentences are to run concurrently.
The court also mandated that Pickering serve at least half of his sentence in custody, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the need for justice for the young victim.
