Rapist’s mother-in-law reported to police over abusing sufferer on-line
- Father-of-two Sergeant Michael Ball is on bail having been convicted of rape
- He was warned to settle his affairs forward of sentencing in February 2024
The mother-in-law of a soldier who faces jail for raping a colleague has been reported to police for allegedly harassing his sufferer.
Father-of-two Sergeant Michael Ball faces years in jail when he’s sentenced for raping a fellow soldier after he went on a marathon ingesting session.
Now it’s emerged that Sandra Nicholls, 71, grandmother of his youngsters, has apparently been messaging household and mates of the girl he raped.
The messages have been framed as in assist of his spouse and her daughter, Lydia Ball.
Nicholls, from Burscough, Ormskirk, is known to be near each her daughter and son-in-law and has posted photos of them in completely satisfied household conditions. She has even modified her avatar to an image of Ball.
Married Army Sergeant Sgt Michael Ball, 37, faces jail after he raped a colleague on a military base
Ball, pictured together with his mom in regulation Sandra Nicholls, proper, who has been reported to police on suspicion of harassing her son-in-law’s sufferer
So her world was rocked when it emerged that Ball attacked a junior officer after he had been binge ingesting all day and night time at a mini pageant celebration referred to as ‘Camp Messtival’ of their barracks in Abingdon, Oxford.
Despite Ball being convicted, his mother-in-law has continued to outspokenly assist him on-line – written as being in assist of her daughter.
Messages despatched by way of a Facebook account within the title of Sandra Nicholls querying Ball’s guilt to shut associates of the complainant, a minimum of certainly one of whom didn’t know concerning the rape.
In one submit she wrote: ‘My son-in-law Michael has been accused and convicted of rape. We, the friends and family of Michael, know that this accusation is not true.’
She then made disparaging remarks concerning the complainant.
The messages additionally title the sufferer – which is unlawful in sexual offence instances – and determine her companion.
One claims: ‘We know that the accuser has been enjoying life since the “attack” took place.’
When approached concerning the episode, the grandmother initially denied that she was behind the messages earlier than conceding that she had written one.
She then stated: ‘Michael’s going to prison. We all know that. We sit back and we’ve let everything take its course. And we’ll let everything take its course now.
Sandra Nicholls, pictured with her daughter Lydia, who is married to rapist soldier Michael Ball
‘You can do what you want to me. I am Michael’s mother in law. I love him very much. I do not believe he’s guilty.’
In October, Ball was discovered responsible of rape and sexual assault after a five-day listening to and wept as he was warned that he confronted being jailed when sentenced at a later date.
Judge Advocate Edward Legrand, dominated the rapist, the military sergeant, be launched on bail post-conviction to get his affairs so as. As a part of his bail situations, Ball should stay at his mother-in-law’s tackle in Ormskirk and reply bail at a civilian police station.
The Military Court, sitting in Catterick, discovered Ball (pictured) responsible of rape and sexual assault. He has been granted bail till February 2024
The sufferer’s mom stated: ‘This has set my daughter’s recovery back months and increased the fear that Ball would or had been looking for her to harm her again.’
‘As soon as we became aware of these messages, we tried to contact the Military Police, and nobody was available to speak to us. Eventually, 72 hours after trying to report the messages and the breach of bail conditions, the Military Police told us it was a civilian matter. So we contacted Lancashire Police.’
In an earlier interview with MailOnline Ball’s sufferer informed how she had been left ‘fearing that he’ll search for me in the identical means that he did on the day he raped me.’
Sgt Ball had been on account of be sentenced this week for Rape and sexual assault – when it was anticipated he can be jailed.
Instead, the disgraced officer will spend Christmas together with his youngsters following an adjournment of his sentencing listening to due on sixth December.
Ball will now be sentenced in February 2024
An Army Spokesperson stated: ‘We can confirm that Sergeant Michael Ball was found guilty of rape and sexual assault at Catterick Court Martial Centre on 20th October 2023. Any questions for the civilian police should be directed to them.’
Lancashire Police have been requested for a remark.
