BRIAN HALFHEAD'S SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN MERSEYSIDE: A LONG HISTORY OF CRIMES REACHING BACK OVER 40 YEARS
A distressing incident unfolded in Merseyside when a pensioner was subjected to a sexual assault by a man who had been following her along the streets of Birkenhead.The victim, an elderly woman, was walking along New Chester Road near Rock Retail Park on a sunny afternoon shortly after 3pm on May 31 this year.
As she strolled, she became aware of a man, later identified as 68-year-old Brian Halfhead, walking behind her.
Witnesses and police reports indicate that Halfhead's presence made her feel increasingly uncomfortable and uneasy, prompting her to pause and allow him to pass.
According to court proceedings, the woman, feeling vulnerable, put on her headphones and continued her walk while listening to music.
However, her sense of safety was shattered when she was suddenly grabbed from behind, between her legs.
Turning around in shock, she saw Halfhead, who was reportedly with his jeans pulled halfway down, and immediately shouted, “What the f***.” This unexpected reaction appeared to startle Halfhead, who then fled the scene hurriedly in the direction of the Queensway Tunnel.
The woman, visibly shaken, quickly contacted emergency services, providing a detailed description of her attacker.
Police officers responded swiftly, and Halfhead was later apprehended at the Fountain Project mental health support centre.
The aftermath of the assault left the victim feeling terrified and anxious, to the extent that she was afraid to leave her home alone.
She even delayed routine errands, such as visiting local shops, for several days because she felt unsafe without the company of a friend.
Her sense of security was deeply compromised by the incident.
Brian Halfhead, a known sex offender, has a long and troubling criminal history.
Court records reveal that he has accumulated 17 previous convictions for a total of 48 offences over a span of more than four decades.
His past crimes include indecent assault and gross indecency involving children under the age of 14 in 1977, indecent assault of a child under 16 in 1987, and sexual intercourse with a minor under 16 in 1988.
These offences highlight a persistent pattern of sexual misconduct spanning many years.
During the court hearing, his defence solicitor, Ken Heckle, acknowledged the seriousness of the recent offence but emphasized that Halfhead had experienced a period of stability in his life.
He admitted that the latest incident was sexually motivated but pointed out that Halfhead had not committed any serious offences for the past 35 years, suggesting a degree of rehabilitation.
Nonetheless, the court was informed that Halfhead accepted responsibility for the sexual assault.
Judge Robert Trevor Jones sentenced Halfhead to 16 months in prison.
Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.
In his sentencing remarks, the judge underscored the gravity of the case, noting that Halfhead’s criminal record demonstrated a recurring pattern of sexual offending.
The judge expressed concern over the high risk of reoffending and the potential danger Halfhead posed to women and children, stating, “There is an undercurrent of sexual behaviour as far as you are concerned.
You are described as representing a high risk of sexual reoffending and a high risk of causing serious harm to children and females, and with that assessment I must agree.”
