WILLIAM ASHTON SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN LIVERPOOL AND SUTTON

In July 2014, William Ashton, a 54-year-old bartender from Breccia Gardens in Parr, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of multiple historical sex offences. His abuse victims date back to the early 1970s, when his primary victim was just six or seven years old. Ashton had initially assaulted her as a child and later resumed the abuse when she was around 16 or 17.

She was one of three women who came forward to report sex attacks spanning from 1972 to 1985. Ashton was acquitted of allegations made by the other two women.

At Croydon Crown Court, he was found guilty of two counts of indecently assaulting the main victim at Cantrill Farm, Liverpool, between 1972 and 1974, and of further counts of indecent assault and rape at an address in Sutton, southwest London, between 1982 and 1985. Prosecutor Caroline Carberry stated, “This rape took place at the end of a lengthy period of grooming which started when she was six or seven-years-old.”

During the trial, Ashton, who was acquitted last year of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl at Liverpool Crown Court, denied all allegations, claiming they were “an invention” and “false allegations.” He also expressed that it was very difficult to come forward after such a long time.

As part of his sentencing, Ashton was ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.