ROBERT PRITCHARD FROM BOOTLE AND LITHERLAND SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR DECADES OF ABUSE

In a harrowing case that has spanned nearly half a century, Robert Pritchard, aged 66, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after being convicted of abusing four young girls over a ten-year period. The abuse took place predominantly in Bootle during the 1960s and 1970s, a period marked by Pritchard’s long-standing criminal history.

It was only after the victims, now adults, found the courage to come forward and report their experiences that Pritchard was brought to justice. The victims’ testimonies revealed the profound and lasting impact of his actions, which had haunted them for decades. Pritchard, who resides at Queen Elizabeth Court on Hatton Hill Road in Litherland, denied all charges during the trial. However, a jury found him guilty of 14 counts of indecent assault, confirming the severity of his crimes.

Pritchard’s criminal record is extensive, including previous convictions for tobacco smuggling and arson. Despite his criminal past, he showed little remorse during the sentencing hearing, occasionally shaking his head as two of his victims delivered emotional statements about how his abuse had devastated their lives.

One victim recounted her lifelong struggle with the trauma, stating, “I have kept an awful secret from the people that I love the most in the whole world for most of my life. This monster dictated and conditioned me so I wouldn’t speak about my feelings or emotions, just to do as I was told. He has taken away every normal emotion I should have felt and replaced them with fear, self-loathing, and worthlessness. I was thrown into an adult world well before my time and threatened into keeping a secret most of my life. I have grown up with a hatred of men and always felt dirty and worthless.”

Another victim described her psychological suffering, saying, “Psychologically for me, life has been like living in a black hole with darkness on all sides. I scream in the darkness and nobody hears me. He stole my innocence and replaced it with real fear and a great sadness. Nobody has the right to make another person experience such pain. To anyone who has been hurt because I wasn’t brave enough to speak out earlier, I am truly, truly sorry.”

Both women revealed that their experiences pushed them to the brink of suicide. One shared that as a young girl, she once stood on a bridge contemplating jumping into a canal, only stopping herself because she believed no one would understand her reasons for doing so.

Judge Alan Conrad, QC, addressed the court, noting that the law at the time limited the maximum sentence he could impose. However, he emphasized that if Pritchard’s crimes had occurred today, he could have faced life imprisonment. The judge condemned Pritchard’s repeated abuse over many years, describing his actions as vile and perverted, and pointed out that the jury’s verdicts confirmed the long-term exploitation of vulnerable victims.

Judge Conrad also highlighted Pritchard’s lack of remorse and sentenced him to a total of ten years in prison. Additionally, he ordered that Pritchard be placed on the sex offenders register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct in the future.