WILLIAM ABBOTT: BULLY WHO SUBJECTED GIRL TO SICK 'RAPE TEST' JAILED FOR 16 YEARS
The troubling history of William Abbott, a man convicted of historic sexual offences committed three decades ago, came to light when he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.At the time of the crimes, Abbott was a practicing Jehovah’s Witness.
He subjected a young girl to a disturbing ‘test’ designed to assess her ability to resist an attacker, during which he told her she needed to learn how to fight off men later in life.
The test ended with Abbott assaulting her sexually.
Abbott’s former wife, Helen Ward, aged 60, was also convicted for assisting him and received a 10-year prison sentence.
Both Abbott, who resides on Pickering Road in Wallasey, and Ward, from Green Lane in Shotton, have been registered as lifelong sex offenders.
Moreover, the court issued Sexual Offences Prevention Orders, restricting them from being alone with children.
Abbott faced charges of two rapes, an attempted rape involving a female minor, and two indecent assaults on a boy.
Ward, believed to have been under Abbott’s control at the time, was found guilty of aiding and abetting rape, attempted rape, and indecency.
Despite denying all allegations, they were convicted at an earlier hearing.
Judge Philip Hughes, presiding at Mold Crown Court, emphasized the gravity of their crimes, which dated back to the 1980s and were linked to drug abuse.
The judge stated that Abbott’s control over his victims and threats to silence them had caused lasting emotional trauma.
He warned that only lengthy prison sentences could be justified for such grave sexual misconduct involving children.
Defense lawyer Desmond Lennon noted that Abbott did not accept the allegations against him, while Ward expressed that she had moved on and started anew.
