ROLAND KENNEDY OF ALTHAM AND BURNLEY SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST SCHOOLGIRLS

In a case that has shocked the communities of Altham and Burnley, Roland Kennedy, a man with a troubling history, was sentenced to nine years in prison for a series of serious sexual offenses committed against two young girls. The conviction and sentencing took place at Burnley Crown Court, where the details of Kennedy's crimes were laid bare for the court and the public to hear.

Kennedy, aged 51 at the time of sentencing, resided on Travis Street in Burnley. His criminal activities, which spanned over a period, involved the sexual assault of two schoolgirls, one aged 13 and the other 12. The court heard that Kennedy's predatory behavior included offering alcohol and cigarettes to one of the victims, a tactic often used by offenders to manipulate and lower the inhibitions of young victims. Despite her youth, Kennedy persistently made sexual advances, touching her breasts and private parts, actions that caused significant distress and trauma.

The case was brought before the Criminal Appeal Court in London, where Kennedy sought to overturn his sentence. However, his appeal was unsuccessful. The judges, including Judge Chapman, Lord Justice Gage, and Mr Justice Davis, acknowledged Kennedy's previous convictions for violence and dishonesty but noted that he had no prior record of sexual offenses. Judge Chapman emphasized that while the nine-year sentence was substantial, it was appropriate given the severity of the crimes and the need for justice. He dismissed Kennedy's appeal, affirming the original sentence.

Earlier, in July 2006, Kennedy had been found guilty of abusing the two schoolgirls after a two-week trial at Burnley Crown Court. He was convicted of seven counts of sexual assault but was acquitted of one count of assault by penetration. Despite protesting his innocence, Kennedy was taken into custody immediately following the verdict. During the proceedings, he initially refused to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register, a legal requirement for convicted offenders, but relented after being advised by his lawyer.

Kennedy, who has a long criminal history including two five-year jail terms, primarily for dishonesty, faced the possibility of a sexual offences prevention order and restrictions on working with children. The court also considered victim impact statements, which detailed the emotional and psychological toll on the young girls. One of the victims, a 13-year-old girl from Burnley, recounted how she screamed and shouted as Kennedy molested her. She described how his conduct began with touching and escalated to more aggressive behavior when she refused his demands.

During police interviews, Kennedy denied the allegations, claiming he had never touched either girl and suggesting that the 13-year-old girl had fabricated the story out of vindictiveness. His defense argued that there was no evidence to support the accusations. Kennedy, who has lived in both Burnley and Altham, was scheduled to learn his fate at Preston Crown Court on August 11th. The judge ordered pre-sentence reports and requested an assessment of any future risk Kennedy might pose, emphasizing the importance of protecting the community from potential harm.