THOMAS HARRISON OF ORRELL PARK SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE IN LIVERPOOL

In a case that has left a lasting impact on the community of Orrell Park and the wider Liverpool area, Thomas Harrison, aged 55, was officially sentenced to a substantial prison term of 16 years after being convicted of multiple counts of child abuse. The conviction stems from a harrowing case involving a woman who was molested by Harrison during her childhood, specifically between the ages of nine and 13, during the 1990s.

Harrison, who worked as a security guard at a supermarket, was found guilty of 11 counts of indecent assault following a detailed trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, expressed her desire for Harrison to be publicly named and shamed, emphasizing her ongoing fears that he may have harmed other young girls. She stated, “He has been going round telling everybody he was going to jail for GBH and I feel he should be outed for what he really is.”

She further revealed her suspicions, saying, “I don’t think I was the first and I don’t think I would have been the last. If there are other victims I hope they come forward.” Harrison’s abuse took place at various addresses within the Wirral area, when he was in his early 30s. Throughout the ordeal, he threatened the victim, warning her that if she reported the abuse, he would claim she was responsible and she would face trouble. The woman recounted, “His demands just got more and more sick and I had enough. I went when I was 14 to the CPS, but they didn’t proceed with it.”

Deciding to pursue justice later in life, she explained, “When I was in my mid-20s I decided I wanted to report it again, because I had heard about cases being reopened. First I went through counselling, because I wanted to be strong enough to go through with it.” Harrison, however, maintained his innocence, denying any wrongdoing and forcing the woman to endure a trial where she had to give evidence and be cross-examined from behind a curtain. She described her experience, saying, “I couldn’t see him and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It was more the thought of going in there that was scary. I had been suffering with tension headaches and I was shaking.”

As a consequence of her trauma, the woman has undergone group and cognitive behavioural therapy, remains on medication for depression and anxiety, and has found it difficult to establish relationships with men. Harrison was also sentenced to an additional two years on licence and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. The sentence mandates that he will serve at least two-thirds of his term—approximately 10 years and eight months—before being eligible for release.

Expressing her surprise at the length of the sentence, the victim said, “I was in bits because I was convinced he was going to get away with it. It was just the guilty verdict I wanted. I did want him to be punished of course, but it wasn’t really the amount of sentence, it was that he got a deserving punishment.” She concluded by criticizing Harrison’s continued denial, remarking, “He is still denying it. I don’t really feel anything towards him now, it’s not even hatred. He is pathetic really – he looked pathetic and he acted pathetic.”