VAXHALL SEX OFFENDER ARTHUR CATTERRALL LEACH SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR 1990 RAPE NEAR FORMBY SAND DUNES

In a case that has spanned over two decades, Arthur Catterall, also known as Leach, a notorious sex offender from Vauxhall, has been convicted of raping an 11-year-old boy in the sand dunes near Freshfields, Formby, in 1990. Despite his persistent claims of innocence, the court has upheld his conviction, emphasizing the severity of his crimes and the danger he poses to the community.

The incident occurred nearly 26 years ago, but it was only after the victim finally came forward that justice was served. The young boy, traumatized by the assault, had repressed his memories for two decades before deciding to report the attack to authorities. The court heard that Catterall, then 26 years old, had lured the boy to the secluded dunes by promising him a ride on his motorbike. Once there, he offered the child cider, which he used to intoxicate him before committing the assault.

Mr. Justice Warby, presiding over London's Appeal Court, detailed the horrific nature of the attack, stating, “Catterall then groped his victim before rolling him over and raping him.” The judge highlighted that the assault took place in 1990, but the victim’s suppressed memories only resurfaced after many years, leading to the eventual police investigation.

Throughout the legal proceedings, Catterall maintained his innocence, claiming that the allegations were fabricated and that no such encounter ever occurred. His defense argued that he could not have committed the crime on the date specified, citing that he was serving a prison sentence at the time. However, evidence presented in court indicated that he was on home release in Liverpool during the period in question, which the prosecution argued was sufficient opportunity for him to commit the offence.

Judge Warby, alongside Lord Justice Burnett and Mr. Justice Haddon-Cave, dismissed Catterall’s appeal, describing his attempt to overturn the conviction as “totally without merit.” The court reaffirmed that the evidence against him was compelling and that his claims of innocence did not hold up under scrutiny.

This case is not the first time Catterall has been linked to serious offenses. In 2011, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the same attack, with the judge at that time, Judge Gerald Clifton, describing him as “very dangerous to young boys.” The court detailed his extensive criminal history, which includes convictions for gross indecency and indecent assault, dating back to the early 1990s.

Prosecutor Lee Bonner recounted that Catterall, who is also known by the alias Leach, had a long-standing pattern of offending against young boys. His previous convictions include a five-year sentence in 1994 for abducting a boy in his lorry, a crime Judge Clifton described as “serious and sinister,” as well as a 39-month sentence in 1998 for detaining another young boy against his will.

Despite these prior convictions, Catterall’s legal troubles persisted, with repeated breaches of a Sexual Offenders Order over the past decade. The court ultimately ordered that he serve a minimum of six years behind bars, recognizing the ongoing risk he poses to children. His history of offenses and the nature of his latest conviction underscore the dangerous profile of this individual, who has shown little remorse for his actions.

Arthur Catterall’s case remains a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable children from predatory offenders. His lengthy criminal record and the severity of his crimes have cemented his reputation as a dangerous individual within the community of Vauxhall and beyond.