BENJAMIN WILLIAMSON SENTENCED IN MANCHESTER 43 YEARS AFTER CHILD'S ABUSE
In August 2007, Benjamin Williamson was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for abusing Geraldine Higson, an ordeal that spanned over six years.Williamson first indecently assaulted Ms.
Higson in 1964 while he was decorating her shop, where she lived.
He continued his abuse until she was 13 years old, including a second assault at a family picnic in Worsley Woods and multiple incidents at her home, where he feigned going to the toilet to climb the stairs to her bedroom.
At Manchester Crown Court, Judge Lesley Newton sentenced Williamson to two years and nine months, remarking that he displayed no remorse for his actions.
Williamson pleaded guilty to four charges of indecent assault, one of which was a specimen charge covering multiple assaults.
Judge Newton stated, "I bear in mind that your victim was nine years old.
You were in a position of trust.
It was a pattern of behaviour that continued for six years." She also read a moving witness impact statement from Mrs.
Higson, noting that "the consequences of your behaviour have been devastating for her." Addressing Mrs.
Higson directly, the judge added, "I do hope that today can make some kind of turning point for you." Williamson is required to serve half of his sentence in custody and the remaining duration on licence.
Prosecutor Charlotte Crangle explained that Williamson previously had convictions in 1999 for three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 and two counts of detaining the girl without lawful authority.
She stated that Williamson had picked up the victim from school and taken her to his home, where sexual intercourse occurred.
For those 1999 offences and an additional assault, Williamson received a sentence of two and a half years and was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for ten years.
He was 59 years old at that time.
In July 2002, Williamson was convicted of failing to update authorities about a change of address while on the sex offenders register and received a six-month suspended prison sentence.
