Colin Walker, 68, subjected four young girls to a catalogue of sickening abuse over more than two decades – his actions had an ‘unfortunate and devastating impact on their lives’
A former security guard concealed his “perverted, disgusting fantasies” for “many, many years” until he was exposed as a serial sexual predator. Colin Walker inflicted a catalogue of horrific abuse on four young girls across more than two decades.
Even when his appalling crimes were finally revealed, the recently retired ex-dock worker attempted to deceive his way out of trouble. But he will now be spending much of his retirement years locked up after his victims’ “bravery, courage and fortitude” in speaking out created a “compelling picture” that secured his conviction.
Liverpool Crown Court was told Walker, of Church Road in Tranmere, Wirral, preyed on the four complainants when they were as young as five by touching them on the vagina, bottom and breasts over approximately 25 years. The 68-year-old was also said to have forced one girl’s hand onto his penis, having previously shown her photographs of nude women on his mobile phone, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Paul Becker, prosecuting, presented a series of victim impact statements to the court yesterday, Monday, with the mother of one child targeted by the paedophile stating: “She is still very young and doesn’t totally understand everything that’s happened. She was a confident, bubbly girl that wasn’t afraid of anything.
“I’ve noticed some changes in her. She wet the bed most nights. She had bad recurring dreams about him. She constantly apologises and blames herself, saying she was naughty and she is sorry.”
Another of the girls’ mothers described how Walker’s offences had caused an “unfortunate and devastating impact on their lives”, recalling the moment she discovered the pensioner had targeted her daughter: “Our lives changed forever in one split second. I had to watch my happy little girl change in front of my eyes. She’s now afraid to see her friends and play. She’s afraid to have fun and be the child she still should be.”
“She’s now a shell of a child she used to be, and it’s devastating. I’ve had to see my daughter break down in tears on regular occasion. She’s not been coping at all. The trauma he made her suffer will never fully leave her.
“I live with the constant guilt every second of every day because of what he did to my daughter. I feel like I completely failed as a mother. I had one job, to keep her safe and happy. He snatched that away from us.”
A third complainant said in her statement: “This event will stay with me and my family for the rest of our lives. It’s taken a toll on my mental health. Things will never be the same. How can they be after the damage he’s caused?”
Walker, who has no prior convictions, was represented by John Rowan. In court, Rowan stated: “He was previously man of good character at 68 years of age, a man who, for many years, had held down employment, only leaving his employment two years ago having retired, spending the vast majority of his working life as a security guard and before that as dock man and warehouse manager. His age, his health problems and his first time in custody may make custody more difficult for him.”
Walker pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and causing a child to engage in sexual activity, but was convicted of a further 12 charges of sexual assault of a child under 13, four of assault by penetration and two of indecent assault by a jury.
Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey top and glasses, he was sentenced to 10 years behind bars and handed an additional year on licence.
During sentencing, Judge Simon Medland KC said: “The evidence which the jury and I heard was compelling. The little girls who were giving evidence against you were telling the truth to the jury.
“The evidence made a compelling picture, that you, for many, many years, secretly had been living out your perverted, disgusting sexual fantasies by interfering with the girls. You did so secretly, and you did so with apparent impunity.
“You thought that, perhaps, it was your right or that they would never be believed or you thought you were just entitled to do it. You were not. These children, these women, are entitled to live their lives free from sexual interference from you or anybody else.
“The effects ring out clearly. The physical and emotional impact of your selfish, disgusting sexual behaviour is a significant aggravating feature in this case, as also is the number of victims.
“You have no previous convictions. You have a good working history. As Mr Rowan rightly concedes, that is perhaps of little value, given the scale of your criminal offending.”
He added: “In your evidence, you told many, many lies when described how you did not do these terrible offences, and the jury were sure that you were lying, and they were sure that the victims of your offending had told the truth, and very brave they were to do that in public. I commend the courage and fortitude which each complainant has shown in coming forward and telling the truth.”
Walker must serve two-thirds of his sentence before becoming eligible for release. He was also given a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and indefinite restraining orders, while he will be obliged to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.