ALBERT STARKIE OF WYTHENSHAWE DIES IN PRISON LESS THAN THREE WEEKS INTO 16-YEAR SENTENCE

In a tragic development, Albert Starkie, a man from Wythenshawe, passed away while incarcerated at Strangeways Prison, less than three weeks after beginning his 16-year imprisonment. His death was officially recorded as resulting from natural causes, and authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his passing.

Starkie’s death marks the end of a deeply disturbing chapter involving allegations of severe child abuse and sexual assault. The details of his crimes came to light earlier this year during court proceedings, revealing a long history of heinous acts committed against his own daughter, Karen Lockhart, also a resident of Wythenshawe.

According to Karen, she endured years of horrific abuse at the hands of her father, starting from the age of seven and continuing until she was 11. She bravely chose to speak out publicly after decades of silence, encouraged by her daughter and friends, to shed light on the trauma she suffered. Her account detailed a series of disturbing incidents, including being forced to perform sexual acts at the age of nine at Tatton cinema, being sexually assaulted at age ten, and ultimately losing her virginity to her father when she was just 11.

Karen, now 57, recounted that her father, Starkie, separated from her mother when she was around ten years old. Despite the separation, the abuse occurred both at her family home and at Starkie’s residence, also located in Wythenshawe. She described her life as being ‘stolen’ by her father’s actions, emphasizing the profound impact the abuse had on her.

In her own words, Karen explained, “At the time I thought all dads did that, but as I got older I realized what he was doing was wrong. But he told me it was our secret and that if I told anyone I and he would be in trouble, so I just kept quiet about it.”

Her suffering did not end with the abuse; she struggled with self-hatred and developed bulimia for many years as a consequence. She also revealed that she engaged in relationships with men as a misguided way of seeking love, believing that was how affection was shown.

Despite her efforts to forge a normal relationship with her father after the abuse stopped, she felt indifferent towards him. They still exchanged birthday and Christmas cards, but her feelings were distant. Her pain was compounded when she finally confided in a friend about her experiences, which marked a turning point in her life.

“I feel like my life has been stolen from me,” she said. “How could he do those things to his own daughter? He was supposed to love and cherish me, not take advantage of a seven-year-old child.”

Her account highlights the lasting scars of her trauma, which she said she has thought about every day of her life. The emotional toll was immense, leading to mental health issues and low self-esteem. She expressed deep resentment towards her father, stating, “I hate him. I hate what he has done to me.”

She also reflected on the absence of the protective and caring relationship she longed for, contrasting her experience with the idealized image of a father-daughter bond. “Even now when I see something on television with a dad and daughter, it hurts because I never had that, and he never did that for me. He only treated me like that when he was abusing me.”

Starkie, aged 80 and residing on Denville Crescent in Wythenshawe, pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple charges, including indecent assault of a girl under 14, indecency with a child under 14, and sexual intercourse with a girl under 13. During the court hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Jeremy Lasker detailed the gravity of Starkie’s actions, emphasizing that his sexual misconduct escalated as Karen grew older. The court was told that Starkie regarded his daughter as a sexual partner, engaging her in various sexualized behaviors, culminating in her losing her virginity at age 11.

Throughout the proceedings, Starkie sat emotionless in the dock, appearing in a wheelchair, and maintained eye contact with his daughter as she read her witness statement. The court remanded him in custody pending sentencing, which was scheduled for the following Friday. Judge Recorder Tony Cross noted the complexity of the sentencing guidelines and emphasized the need for careful consideration to ensure justice was properly served.

The tragic story of Albert Starkie from Wythenshawe underscores the devastating impact of familial abuse and the importance of speaking out against such crimes. His death in prison closes a dark chapter, but the scars left on his victim remain a stark reminder of the profound harm caused by such violations.