ANTHONY LINDUS FROM DARLINGTON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEX ATTACK ON 7-YEAR-OLD VICTIM
In a highly controversial decision, Judge John Walford chose to release Anthony Lindus, a 27-year-old man from Darlington, after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl.The incident involved two separate indecent assaults on the seven-year-old girl, who was a distant relative, and the court heard that she was left profoundly affected by the trauma, displaying signs of anxiety and emotional distress.
Despite the severity of the crimes, Judge Walford described Lindus as a vulnerable individual and expressed concern that imprisonment might exacerbate his problems.
As a result, he sentenced Lindus to a twelve-month jail term, suspended, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses.
During the sentencing, the judge addressed Lindus directly, stating, "I just hope they will find it within themselves to understand your limitations and accept my conclusion that a custody setting might be in fact even more likely to produce in you a problem in the future than if you were treated within the setting of the community." The decision sparked outrage among the victim’s parents.
The girl’s mother, aged 24, voiced her anger and disappointment, saying, “This is not justice, he should have gone to jail.” Her stepfather, aged 41, expressed his frustration, stating, “The judge got it badly wrong.
Any parent would understand our bitter anger and disappointment.
Surely our little girl is the one who was vulnerable.
This man exploited that and should be behind bars, not a free man.” It was revealed in court that the parents had entrusted Lindus with their children, including the girl and her two younger sisters, while they went out to bingo.
The parents left the children in Lindus’s care, trusting him, but he was found in the girl’s bedroom when her stepfather returned early.
The girl later disclosed that she had also been attacked 18 months prior to the recent incident.
Lindus, who resides in Darlington, admitted to two counts of indecent assault.
A report on him described him as “immature” and noted that he had never engaged in a sexual relationship before.
Judge Walford acknowledged that Lindus’s actions represented a serious breach of trust but emphasized that he had no prior criminal record.
Children’s charity Kidscape’s representative Nikki Kerr criticized the judge’s decision, stating, “The judge acknowledged it was serious, then let him walk out.
This man is a danger and was aware of what he did because he attacked her twice.
The parents must be shocked that the judge seems more concerned about him than their daughter.” A spokeswoman for Barnardo’s also expressed disapproval, saying, “The judge is wrong in asking the parents to understand his reasons for not jailing this man.
Why should they be expected to understand?” Judge Walford, aged 58, is no stranger to controversy.
Last year, he deferred sentencing a serial thief so that the individual could watch his favorite football team, Hartlepool, in the League One promotion playoff.
The case involving Lindus is now under review by the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, who is expected to examine whether the sentence was unduly lenient.
A spokesperson for the Attorney General stated, “He will look at all the evidence that was put before the court.
If he decides that the sentence was below reasonable expectations he can refer the case to the Court of Appeal.”
