CARL LOVELL SHOCKS LEIGH WITH BRUTAL RAPE OF 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In June 2002, a devastating case of sexual assault unfolded in Leigh, leaving the community shaken and authorities determined to deliver justice. Carl Lovell, aged 35, was found guilty of raping a 12-year-old girl in a disturbing incident that took place in her own home, where she was sleeping on the living room floor alongside her friend and her mother.

According to court reports, Lovell had visited the residence in Leigh during the early hours of the morning, specifically around 2 a.m. Prosecutor Jonathan Dickinson detailed how Lovell managed to sneak into the house and, under the cover of darkness, crept beneath the duvet covering the two other girls who were sleeping nearby. Without warning, he indecently assaulted the young girl, then proceeded to commit a serious sexual assault, all while her mother remained asleep just a few feet away on the sofa.

The girl, overwhelmed by fear and pain, chose to remain silent during the assault, despite her obvious distress. Lovell, after completing his heinous act, warned her not to disclose what had happened. However, once he left the house, the girl quickly locked the door, woke her mother, and tearfully recounted the assault, revealing the trauma she had endured.

Lovell, who resides on Slater Street in Leigh, appeared before Bolton Crown Court to face sentencing after being convicted of the crimes following a trial. His criminal history is extensive, with a total of 46 previous offences, including theft, violence, possession of offensive weapons, and driving violations. The most serious of his past crimes occurred in 1994 when he was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court for raping a 29-year-old woman he knew. He had driven her to a secluded location where he committed the assault and was subsequently sentenced to six years in prison.

Given that this was Lovell’s second conviction for rape, he was automatically subject to a life sentence under the government’s strict “two strikes and you’re out” legislation. During the sentencing hearing, Lovell’s defense lawyer, Steven Swift, argued that his client had shown remorse and recognized the need for help. Lovell himself expressed confusion about his actions, stating he did not understand why he had committed the assault and claimed he would not want his own daughters to suffer such an attack.

Judge Gillian Ruaux, presiding over the case, ordered that Lovell serve a minimum of 14 years before being eligible for parole, with a specific minimum term of six years and 55 days. She emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating, “Rape is always a serious crime and rape of a child is even more serious. It’s the gravest breach of trust that I have ever had to hear. You indecently assaulted the child and raped her while her mother was asleep in the same room. It’s a totally dreadful crime, and your remorse is far too late. During the trial, the girl had to relive her ordeal in court.”

Medical experts testified that alcohol consumption had impaired Lovell’s judgment, concluding that he was not a predatory paedophile. Nonetheless, the court’s focus remained on the severity of his actions and the impact on the young victim, who was left traumatized by the ordeal. The community of Leigh now faces the aftermath of this tragic event, with justice served but scars that will take time to heal.