VINCENT WHITTINGHAM FROM RIBCHESTER JAILED FOR 19 YEARS OVER DECADES-OLD SEXUAL ABUSE CASES

In a significant legal development, Vincent Whittingham, a resident of Ribchester, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 19 years following his conviction for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against young girls over a span of more than three decades. The crimes, which date back to March 1980, involved victims as young as five years old and as old as 13, highlighting the disturbing nature and prolonged duration of his abusive behavior.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Whittingham, aged 69 at the time of sentencing, had targeted vulnerable young girls, subjecting them to sexual abuse and molestation. The court heard that after each assault, he would threaten or instruct the victims to keep their experiences a secret, thereby silencing them and allowing his predatory conduct to continue unchecked for many years.

Whittingham, who resides on Stydd Lane in Ribchester, denied multiple charges, including rape and sexual assault, which spanned from the early 1980s through to more recent years. Despite his denials, the jury found him guilty of a total of 10 counts of rape, six counts of indecent assault, three charges of engaging in sexual activity with a minor, four additional sexual assault charges, and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The presiding judge, Simon Newell, did not only impose the 19-year prison sentence but also mandated that Whittingham be registered on the sex offenders’ register for life. Furthermore, he was prohibited from working with children in any capacity, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the potential risk he poses to society.

Prosecutor Louise Whaites highlighted the grave impact of Whittingham’s actions, noting that at least one of the victims was exposed to sexually transmitted diseases after engaging in unprotected sex with him. This detail underscores the dangerous and reckless nature of his conduct, which has left lasting scars on the victims and their families.

Overall, the case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for robust legal measures to protect vulnerable children from predators like Vincent Whittingham, whose actions have now been brought to justice after decades of concealment.