RONALD BOOTHBY OF OSWALDTWISTLE JAILED INDEFINITELY FOR PREDATORY SEX OFFENSES IN EAST LANCASHIRE

In a significant development in the fight against child sexual abuse, Ronald Boothby, a 59-year-old man from Oswaldtwistle, has been sentenced to an indefinite prison term following a series of heinous crimes committed across East Lancashire. The court heard that Boothby had a disturbing history of abusing multiple young girls, with his offenses spanning several decades and involving a pattern of predatory behavior.

Boothby’s criminal activities included the abuse of five schoolgirls, two of whom he assaulted in makeshift playhouses located outside Oswaldtwistle Mills. His actions were described as calculated and manipulative, targeting particularly vulnerable victims. It was revealed that he had previously been spared jail in 2009 after admitting to two counts of sexual assault against a girl with learning difficulties. Despite this earlier conviction, his predatory tendencies persisted, culminating in the recent convictions.

The court also learned that Boothby had a long history of sexual offenses dating back to 1980, when he was convicted of indecently assaulting a five-year-old girl. At that time, he was subjected to a hospital order, indicating the severity of his mental health issues. During the proceedings, he was characterized as a fantasist who exploited the naivety and vulnerability of his victims, often intimidating them into silence and compliance with his perverted demands.

Investigations revealed that Boothby maintained a room filled with toys at his residence, which he used to lure and manipulate his victims. Over a span of ten years, he engaged in a disturbing campaign of indecent behavior, which included simulating sexual acts, kissing the children, touching them inappropriately, and encouraging them to perform sex acts on him. In one particularly disturbing incident, he committed a sex act on a young girl. His actions demonstrated a pattern of escalating abuse, with some of the offenses being documented as particularly egregious.

Boothby’s mental health was also a point of concern. The probation service described him as having 'very minor leaning difficulties' and a limited IQ, which contributed to his ability to manipulate and exploit his victims. Despite this, they assessed him as posing a high risk of harm to children. However, efforts to work with him were hampered because he denied any sexual motivation behind his actions.

He was charged with multiple offenses, including causing or inciting a female under 13 to engage in sexual activity, sexual activity with a child, and gross indecency. These crimes, some of which involved particularly disturbing conduct, came to light after victims came forward following media reports of his 2009 conviction. The case was brought before Burnley Crown Court, where Judge Graham Knowles, QC, delivered a stern judgment.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Knowles described Boothby as a dangerous individual whose repeated and persistent offending demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior. The judge emphasized that Boothby had exploited every opportunity to commit his crimes and that his actions had caused significant harm to his victims. As a result, he was sentenced to an indeterminate term of imprisonment, with a minimum of four years and three days before he could be considered for parole. The court also ordered that Boothby be permanently banned from working with children and placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, underscoring the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to society.