ADAM HARRISON FROM BRIDLINGTON AND SCARBOROUGH SENTENCED FOR RAPE CRIMES INVOLVING 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a case that has shocked the communities of Bridlington and Scarborough, Adam Harrison, an 18-year-old resident of Harcourt Place in Scarborough, was convicted of heinous sexual offenses involving a young girl from Bridlington. The incident, which spanned over a year, involved multiple assaults and culminated in Harrison being sentenced to a significant term in a young offenders' institution.

Harrison's trial at Hull Crown Court revealed disturbing details of his actions. It was established that he had attacked the primary school girl up to 15 times over a period of 12 months, leading to six charges of rape being brought against him. The jury, after deliberating for six hours, found Harrison guilty of these charges despite his initial denial and only admitting to a single charge of sexual activity with a child under 15.

The sentencing took place at Sheffield Crown Court last Wednesday, where both Harrison's family and the relatives of the victim were present. The court heard from Ruth Cranidge, who represented Harrison in mitigation. She pointed out that psychological and psychiatric assessments showed no evidence of mental health issues in Harrison. She urged the court to consider his young age at the time of the offenses, emphasizing that he was only 14 when the crimes occurred.

Cranidge highlighted Harrison's difficult upbringing, noting that he was expected to assume a parental role for his siblings from the age of nine. She also stated that since the age of 14, Harrison had remained out of trouble and there was no indication of an unhealthy attraction to children. She acknowledged that Harrison was aware of the wrongfulness of his actions and the harm caused to the victim. Cranidge expressed the view that Harrison had matured over the years and did not pose a continuing threat to the public, arguing that a custodial sentence was not necessary for public protection.

However, Judge Trevor Barber, who presided over the case and had also heard the trial in Hull, disagreed with the mitigation arguments. Addressing Harrison directly, the judge stated, "You are now 18, but when you were 14 you raped a girl and threatened to kill her if she told anyone." The judge expressed concern over Harrison's apparent lack of remorse and his ability to detach from the severity of his actions. He emphasized that until Harrison's issues are professionally addressed, he remains a risk to children.

Judge Barber acknowledged the mitigating factors, including Harrison's youth at the time, his difficult upbringing, and the absence of prior convictions. Nonetheless, he underscored the seriousness of the offenses and the devastating impact on the victim and her family. The judge concluded that Harrison continues to pose a danger to children and sentenced him accordingly.

Earlier, in February 2009, Harrison had appeared in court in Scarborough, admitting to some sexual activities with the young girl but denying the six counts of rape. The prosecution outlined that the girl had been subjected to sexual abuse between 10 and 15 times over a year, with Harrison initially claiming that he only simulated sex by climbing on top of her and touching her over clothing. He also confessed to police that he had engaged in sexual acts with her.

The girl described her ordeal as painful and frightening, recounting that she shouted for him to stop but he did not. She also reported that Harrison threatened to kill her or harm her family if she disclosed the abuse. The court heard that the abuse involved different scenes for each incident, and the allegations came to light after the girl confided in a classmate. She provided police with four DVD interviews detailing her experiences.

Harrison, dressed in a suit, initially pleaded not guilty to the six counts of rape but later admitted to sexual assault during the proceedings. He acknowledged touching the girl over her clothing and lying on top of her on several occasions, as well as simulating sex. He claimed that another individual was present during some incidents and encouraged him to perform sexual acts, which he felt ashamed of and recognized as wrong. Despite his admissions, Harrison maintained his innocence on the charges of rape, asserting that the events did not occur as alleged.

The case continues as the prosecution seeks to establish whether the alleged rapes took place beyond Harrison's admissions, emphasizing the burden of proof required for conviction. The court remains attentive to the evidence presented, and the proceedings are ongoing.