ANTHONY THOMPSON SHOCKS EASINGWOLD AND THIRSK WITH CRIMINAL PAST IN NORTH YORKSHIRE

In a recent court case that has stirred strong emotions among the victims and the local community, Anthony Thompson, a man with a dark history of abusing young girls during his teenage years in North Yorkshire, was convicted of indecent assault but ultimately walked free from court, leaving many feeling betrayed and angry.

Thompson, now aged 52, was involved in heinous acts against two young girls in the 1970s, when he was just a teenager. The victims, who kept their painful experiences hidden for decades, finally found the courage to come forward after one of them saw Thompson with a child last year in Thirsk. The sight of him with a young child immediately triggered memories of her past trauma, and she felt compelled to contact the police to report her concerns.

Following a thorough investigation, authorities uncovered additional details from a second victim, who also revealed her own history of abuse at Thompson’s hands. The case was brought before Teesside Crown Court, where Thompson faced four charges of indecent assault. He admitted to these charges, but due to the legal guidelines in place at the time of the offenses, he was not sentenced to prison. Instead, he received a suspended sentence of 16 months, which will be served over the next two years, and was placed on the sex offenders’ register.

The sentencing has sparked outrage among the victims, who expressed their frustration over what they perceive as a miscarriage of justice. One victim stated, “It shouldn’t matter when these things happen; they are still abuse. It’s all the same in the eyes of the law.” Another added, “It’s almost like the law is saying, ‘Yes, we believe you, but it was a long time ago,’ which feels dismissive and hurtful.”

Anthony Thompson, who was formerly based in Easingwold and now resides in Thirsk, is a married grandfather. During the court proceedings, he was supported by his wife and children, a fact that added to the emotional complexity of the case. Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, addressed Thompson directly, stating, “You will no longer be able to hold your head up as a man of good character, you no longer will be able to say ‘I am a pillar of the community.’”

The judge criticized Thompson for denying the allegations initially and only admitting guilt at the last moment, which prevented the victims from giving evidence in court. “They had the courage to come forward and tell the police what you had done to them,” the judge remarked. “You showed little or no courage and continued to deny your actions for a long time. Your guilty plea spared them further trauma, but it does not erase the pain caused.”

Legal representatives for Thompson presented character references, highlighting his seemingly normal life as a family man and a hard worker. Defense lawyer Dan Cordey described Thompson’s life as “exemplary,” emphasizing that he had not caused trouble in society and had been a responsible individual. However, the prosecution pointed out the complexities of sentencing, noting that the legal landscape has changed significantly since the offenses occurred.

Prosecutor Simon Kealey explained that, given the historical context, children in the 1970s were less aware of the dangers and less worldly-wise than children today. He acknowledged the serious impact of Thompson’s actions on the victims but also recognized the difficulties in applying modern standards retroactively. The court’s decision resulted in Thompson receiving a suspended sentence, which many see as insufficient given the nature of his crimes.

One of the victims shared her emotional toll, saying, “The past 18 months have been horrendous. I had to open up those locked-away memories, and it’s been a hard journey. It feels like what he did was not even worthy of a day in prison.” The other victim expressed her distress, stating, “Even though it happened years ago, and it’s now in court, he should have been sentenced under today’s laws. When I saw that photograph of him with a child, my first instinct was to protect that child. I hadn’t seen him in 30 years, but suddenly, he was a real person again, and it brought everything back.”