ANTHONY WESTHEAD FROM EVERTON SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE IN NORRIS GREEN

In a case that has shocked the local community, Anthony Westhead, a 58-year-old man from Thirlmere Road in Everton, was sentenced to eight years in prison for his involvement in the sexual abuse of two young girls in Norris Green during the 1990s.

Westhead, who has a troubling criminal history, admitted to seven counts of indecent assault related to one of the victims. However, he was found not guilty of the charge of raping her after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The court also heard that Westhead pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault concerning the second girl, confirming his involvement in these serious offenses.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, presided over the case and delivered a powerful statement emphasizing the profound impact of Westhead’s actions. He remarked that anyone who had witnessed the first girl’s testimony could not help but be moved by her evident distress. The judge stated, “You took away her innocence. In truth, you have sentenced her to a life sentence, because in all probability, not a day goes by when her mind does not wander to when you indecently assaulted her.”

The court was informed that the two victims had reconnected approximately eight years prior to the trial, discovering that they had both been abused by Westhead. During her victim personal statement, the first girl revealed the devastating effects the abuse had on her mental health and overall well-being. She shared that the trauma led her to attempt suicide, describing her feelings of hopelessness and despair. “The acts against me made me feel suicidal, as if I had no-one or anywhere to turn to,” she said.

Her struggles did not end there. The victim recounted how she began self-harming and was hospitalized after overdosing on pills. She faced ongoing difficulties in her education, failing exams, and found it hard to establish trusting relationships with men. She also suffers from panic attacks and expressed a deep sense of emotional turmoil. “I’ve never been able to have a bond where trust is concerned. I don’t feel like I’m normal like everybody else. At times I feel like my life is out of control. I’m unable to get these things out of my head,” she explained.

Westhead’s criminal record includes a previous conviction for rape dating back to 1980, for which he served three years in prison. The prosecution, led by Charlotte Kenny, highlighted Westhead’s history of violent and predatory behavior. She recounted an incident where Westhead claimed he needed money and intended to steal a handbag from a woman in the street, but the situation escalated into a rape, which appeared to be a case of stranger rape.

Throughout the proceedings, Westhead, who was described as balding, wearing glasses, and dressed in a grey zip-up top, sat with his head bowed, showing little emotion as the court delivered its verdict. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Everton and Norris Green, with many residents expressing their outrage and concern over the safety of children in the area.