LEIGH MAN ANDREW RICHARDS SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 12-YEAR-OLD BOY IN LEIGH AND LIVERPOOL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Leigh and the wider Liverpool area, Andrew Richards, a 20-year-old man from Tinkersfield, Leigh, was convicted of serious sexual offenses involving a young boy. The incidents, which took place over a period of time, culminated in Richards being sentenced to three years in detention at Liverpool Crown Court in May of the previous year.

Richards admitted to charges of making indecent images of children and assault by penetration. The court heard that his victim was a 12-year-old boy, whom Richards had filmed performing a sexual act on his mobile phone in 2010. The footage also included Richards performing another sexual act on the naked boy, further compounding the severity of his crimes. Mrs. Justice Cox, presiding over the case, detailed that Richards’ actions were not only criminal but also deeply invasive and exploitative.

Despite Richards’ argument that his sentence was excessive, the appeal court judges dismissed his challenge on Tuesday. Mrs. Justice Cox, sitting alongside Lord Justice Pitchford and Mr. Justice Burnett in London, emphasized that the victim had appeared to consent, and she noted Richards’ low mental age at the time of the offenses—despite being 19 years old. The judge acknowledged that Richards’ actions involved a degree of “experimentation,” and she also pointed out that he was supported by a family, which she described as “supportive.”

However, she underscored that the law is designed to protect vulnerable children from harm, including from their own actions or experimentation. Concluding her remarks, Mrs. Justice Cox stated, “The sentence cannot be said to be manifestly excessive,” reaffirming the court’s stance on the gravity of the crimes committed.

Earlier, in October 2011, Richards had already admitted to a serious sexual assault on the same boy. During that incident, Richards filmed part of the assault on his mobile phone, which ultimately contributed to his conviction. The court heard that Richards, who has a reading age of 10 and a comprehension age of 14, had known the boy for approximately five years. On October 8 of that year, they encountered each other by chance on the street, and Richards invited the boy to his home. Once there, he undressed the boy and engaged in sexual activity, some of which was recorded on his mobile device. Richards then sexually assaulted the boy again.

Further details revealed that on October 17, Richards was at a friend’s house with their respective girlfriends. When he left to walk his girlfriend home, he inadvertently left his mobile phone behind. The couple, described as “being nosey,” examined the device and discovered two pictures of a naked boy, along with a video of the victim that Richards had taken. This evidence played a crucial role in his conviction.

During the court proceedings, Richards’ defense attorney, Paul Becker, highlighted that Richards had no previous convictions. Nonetheless, Judge Mark Brown ordered that Richards be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the need for ongoing monitoring and protection of the community.