John Atherton, a 45-year-old individual from Bottesford, has been administered an eight-year prison sentence after being found guilty of child sexual abuse. The case was heard at Grimsby Crown Court where the prosecution managed to establish Atherton’s guilt in two cases of sexual abuse on a minor under the age of thirteen.
The incidents came to light after the child, traumatized by the experiences, shared her ordeal. Atherton, despite declaiming all the charges, was eventually convicted. This lengthy legal process augmented the distress for the child and her family.
According to prosecution arguments, Atherton not only abused his victim but subjected her to his perverse and immoral sexual behaviour. These actions were criminal, repugnant and inflicted considerable harm on his young victim, argued the prosecution.
Post-release, Atherton will spend a mandatory year on licence and his name will be added to the sex offenders register for a lifetime. Detective Constable Richard Brackenbury, leading the case, stated that the punishment is likely to provide some form of reassurance to the public, although it acknowledges the sentence cannot erase the suffering the victim has endured because of Atherton’s actions.
Detective Brackenbury drew attention to Atherton’s nefarious actions, which he categorized as the result of a depraved and self-centered predisposition towards sexual deviancy. His abhorrent behaviour inflicted immeasurable harm, necessitating a trial that placed an extreme burden on the young victim and her family.
Although the Grimsby Crown Court judgement concludes one aspect of the case, Detective Brackenbury acknowledged that the process of recovery for the victim would be a prolonged one.
This article is based on original reporting provided by The Lincoln Post in collaboration with bbc.com.
