CARL BOLTON CHILD ABUSER FROM YORK SENTENCED IN YORK CROWN COURT

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of York, Carl Richard Bolton, aged 36, has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for a series of heinous child abuse offenses involving a young girl from a local primary school. The abuse spanned over a two-year period and involved multiple instances of sexual misconduct, both within the confines of the victim's home and in public facilities.

Prosecutor Simon Kealey outlined the details of the case during the proceedings at York Crown Court. He explained that Bolton, who was a lodger at the victim's family residence, began his inappropriate conduct shortly after moving into the property. The young girl, whose age at the time was that of a primary school pupil, was subjected to repeated indecent assaults by Bolton. These assaults included acts of sexual nature, starting with seemingly innocuous gestures such as French kisses, which gradually escalated into more serious offenses.

One particularly disturbing incident involved Bolton taking the girl to a public toilet for further sexual activity, an act that underscores the predatory nature of his behavior. The court heard that some of these offenses occurred when the girl was sent home from school due to illness, leaving her vulnerable and alone with Bolton. During these times, he exploited her trust and innocence, abusing her in her own home while her parents were unable to supervise her. On other occasions, when there were other people present in the house, Bolton would signal to the girl to arrange private moments where he could continue his abuse undetected.

Judge Paul Hoffman, the Honorary Recorder of York, condemned Bolton's actions as a clear case of grooming and corruption. In his remarks, the judge described Bolton as a hypocrite who began with minor acts of manipulation and gradually moved to more serious sexual exploitation. The judge emphasized the betrayal of trust involved in the case and the damage inflicted upon the young victim.

Bolton pleaded guilty to seven charges of indecent assault and two charges of gross indecency with a child. His guilty plea came shortly before the trial was set to commence, and he was subsequently sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. The court also ordered that Bolton be subject to enhanced supervision upon his release, with probation officers given additional oversight to monitor his conduct.

As part of his sentence, Bolton was placed on the sex offenders' register for life and was permanently barred from working with children. It was noted that the offenses took place several years prior to the trial, and Bolton had since left the family home where the abuse occurred. In mitigation, defense lawyer Nicholas Barker highlighted that Bolton had no previous convictions and expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that the offenses should never have happened. Barker also mentioned that Bolton had experienced difficulties during childhood, including struggles with reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Prosecutor Kealey revealed that the abuse only came to light last year when the victim, now older, confided in her mother about what had happened. The revelation led to the investigation and subsequent conviction, although Bolton had long since moved away from the family home. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable children within the community of York.