THOMAS WALKER FROM WALTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN LIVERPOOL AND WALTON

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Thomas Walker, a man formerly residing on Hurlingham Road in Walton, was brought to justice for a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of minors. The lengthy investigation revealed a pattern of depravity that spanned over two decades, beginning when the victim was just 13 years old.

Walker’s abuse of the young girl persisted for approximately four years, during which he subjected her to repeated acts of sexual violence. The victim, who finally found the strength to come forward in 2020, recounted how her life was profoundly affected by Walker’s actions. Her courage was sparked after she learned that Walker had been incarcerated for attempting to arrange the rape of an 11-year-old girl and the molestation of a toddler through online communications.

Walker, aged 43 at the time of sentencing, faced a series of serious charges, including three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault by penetration, two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child, and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm. These charges were the culmination of a lengthy trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where Walker continued to deny any wrongdoing despite overwhelming evidence against him.

Prosecutor Robert Wyn-Jones detailed the extent of Walker’s abuse, describing how he had raped and sexually assaulted the girl multiple times over the years. The court heard that Walker forced her to strip while he engaged in self-pleasure in front of her, a campaign of terror that left lasting scars.

The case was further compounded by Walker’s online activities. In August 2019, he was caught in an undercover police sting after he explicitly told an officer, “I love young,” and arranged to meet the officer in order to carry out sexual abuse against two young girls, aged 11 and two. During the investigation, authorities discovered a disturbing collection of images on Walker’s phone, including 250 Category A images—those depicting the most severe forms of child abuse, including the rape of children as young as six. Additionally, there were 508 Category B images, 301 Category C images, and 396 files of extreme pornography. Walker had also shared four Category B images and distributed extreme pornographic material via WhatsApp.

Walker’s illegal activities did not stop there. The police found indecent images of babies and extreme animal pornography on his devices. His online conversations revealed a disturbing desire to engage in sexual acts with children, with discussions about wearing children’s underwear and touching the minors all over. He also sent a photograph of a penis enclosed in underwear to the decoy profile, further illustrating his depravity.

Following his arrest on September 2, 2019, police seized two mobile phones from Walker, which contained the extensive collection of indecent images and conversations. Despite being given the opportunity to speak with authorities, Walker chose to give two “no comment” interviews. Eventually, he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including encouraging or assisting in sexual offences, downloading and distributing indecent images, and possessing extreme pornography.

Judge Woodhall sentenced Walker to a total of 16 years in prison for his crimes. Each of the counts of rape carried a 16-year sentence, while other charges resulted in additional years, all to run concurrently. The judge emphasized the particularly vulnerable age of one of the fictional victims depicted in the images, which was an aggravating factor. Walker was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

The victim, in a heartfelt statement, expressed her feelings of guilt and relief. She said, “My world turned upside down when I saw the article. Immediately I assumed two children had come to harm because I failed to speak out. I was consumed by guilt.” She described her ongoing struggles with panic attacks, depression, and social withdrawal, which she attributed to Walker’s abuse. Despite her trauma, she declared her resilience, stating, “The shame and guilt is not mine to carry. I haven’t done anything but try to survive, despite this monster trying to keep me down, and I have fought him every step of the way. I will never regard myself as his victim, I will only ever be my own saviour.”