ALBERT DONALDSON'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN MANCHESTER: PENSIONER'S SENTENCE REDUCED AFTER ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRLS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Manchester, particularly the Whitefield area, Albert Donaldson, a 69-year-old man, has been at the center of a lengthy and distressing series of sexual offenses involving young girls. The case, which spans over a decade, has brought to light the horrific abuse inflicted by Donaldson on three innocent victims, with the crimes beginning when the girls were as young as three years old.

Initially, Donaldson was sentenced to a 12-year prison term after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including rape, indecent assault, and gross indecency. The offenses were committed against three underage girls, with one victim from Bolton being raped when she was only eight years old. The abuse reportedly started when she was just three, and continued for nearly ten years until she reached puberty at age 13. The victim, now 25, courageously decided to speak out publicly, hoping her testimony might encourage other victims of similar abuse to come forward and seek justice.

During her emotional statement, she expressed her feelings about the sentence and her ongoing emotional struggles. She remarked, “If these girls — they may be women now — know that he has been put away, it may give them the strength to put it behind them and carry on with the rest of their lives.” Despite acknowledging that the 12-year sentence was harsh, she conveyed her belief that it still did not feel sufficient, stating, “We’ve all been given life sentences. I want him to suffer as well.” She also shared her personal battles with depression, revealing that she has been taking anti-depressants and hopes to speak with a counselor to help her cope with the trauma.

The abuse, as she recounted, ceased only when she reached puberty, which she described as a turning point. “It just stopped. I was obviously turning into a woman, and was no longer of any use,” she said. She admitted that at the time, she was too young to understand what was happening, believing that such acts were commonplace. Her account detailed how she was only eight when Donaldson raped her, and how she was threatened with death if she ever told anyone about the abuse. The fear and silence persisted for many years, with her feeling too terrified to disclose her ordeal, fearing disbelief and further harm.

Reflecting on her delayed disclosure, she expressed regret, saying, “I really wish I’d have come forward sooner. If I had, I might have saved one of the other girls from this nightmare.” The guilt associated with her silence continues to haunt her, especially as she considers the other victims who suffered in silence.

When Donaldson was confronted with the allegations last year, he ultimately pleaded guilty to the most serious charges, sparing the victims the ordeal of testifying in court. However, two of the girls were present during his sentencing. One of them described her feelings, saying, “I wanted him to look at me, and stare him out. I wanted to gloat over his sentence. But he stared us out. It didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest.” She also recounted her anger upon seeing Donaldson smile and wink at her as he was led away from the courtroom, an act that intensified her desire for justice and retribution.

In response to the case, a spokesperson from the child protection unit in Salford commented, “Three girls came forward years later, and this result shows that positive action does come out of these allegations. The sentence took into account the trust these girls had in him, which he then abused.”

Most recently, the Court of Appeal decided to reduce Donaldson’s sentence from 12 years to nine, citing his age and guilty plea as mitigating factors. This decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some feeling that justice has not been fully served for the victims. Nonetheless, the case remains a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need to protect vulnerable children from predators lurking within communities like Manchester.