THOMAS O'HALLORAN

MAN WHO SEXUALLY ABUSED GIRL IN ST HELENS GIVEN EXTENDED SENTENCE

A man named Thomas O'Halloran, aged 74 and living on Duke Street in St Helens, has been sentenced for sexually abusing a girl over a period of five years.

The incident involved multiple counts including sexual assault of a child under 13 and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

O'Halloran was convicted after a trial and was described by the judge as a 'dangerous offender'.

During the court hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, his victim delivered a statement, expressing fear and describing her childhood as 'lost' and 'unbearable' since the abuse.

The prosecuting barrister mentioned O'Halloran's prior convictions for exposure in 1985 and a sentence for sexual communication with a child in 2021, which occurred after these offenses.

The judge, Stuart Driver KC, emphasized the significant psychological harm caused to the victim and noted the aggravating factors including the number of offenses, the duration, and O'Halloran's criminal record.

The court sentenced him to 13 years in prison — nine years custody with a four-year extended license period, two concurrent three-year terms, and a four-year sentence.

An extended sentence requires him to serve at least two-thirds of the nine-year term.

Additionally, a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim were imposed.

The judge described O'Halloran as a 'significant risk' to the public, emphasizing the need for an extended sentence to protect the community.

The court concluded that O'Halloran's behavior and record justify the classification as a 'dangerous offender'.