WILLIAM SUTHERLAND FROM WALTON AND SOUTHPORT JAILED FOR DECADES OF CHILD ABUSE

In a case that has spanned over two decades of pain and suffering, William Sutherland, a 72-year-old man from Walton, has finally been brought to justice for a series of heinous crimes committed against two young girls. The lengthy period of abuse, which persisted from the early 1990s into the 2000s, has left lasting scars on the victims, who have now come forward to testify in court.

William Sutherland, who resided on Wellbrow Road in Walton, vehemently denied all allegations of abuse during the trial. Despite his denials, the jury found him guilty on multiple counts, including four charges of rape and eight counts of indecent assault. The court proceedings revealed the disturbing extent of his crimes, which included multiple rapes of one girl between the ages of three and ten, and repeated abuse of a second girl over a single night. The second victim recounted how Sutherland had cornered her in a caravan in Southport, threatening her to keep silent about what had transpired.

During the trial at Liverpool Crown Court, emotional testimonies from the victims, now adults, painted a harrowing picture of the trauma inflicted upon them. One of the women shared her ongoing struggles, stating, “Since this happened to me I think it has affected my relationships. Whenever I told my partner what happened to me at the hands of William Sutherland it always caused me problems. I’m just glad that this has come to an end and justice has finally been served.”

The second woman expressed her profound sense of loss and damage, saying, “I don’t know how to express what William Sutherland has done to me. All that I know is he took away my childhood. I know today I am a fraction of the person I was meant to be.”

Judge Robert Warnock, presiding over the case, sentenced Sutherland to a total of 17 years in prison—15 years for the rapes and an additional two years for the indecent assault on the second girl. In his sentencing remarks, the judge emphasized the gravity of Sutherland’s betrayal of trust, stating, “You tried to convince (one of your victims) that she enjoyed what was clearly a terrifying experience. You have stolen their childhood and seriously impaired their adult lives. I cannot detect any remorse or insight into what you have done.”

This case underscores the devastating impact of long-term abuse and the importance of justice for victims who have endured such trauma in the shadows of their communities, including Southport and Walton.