COLIN BOOTH FROM WESTHOUGHTON ESCAPES PRISON AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT AND MULTIPLE EXPOSURES IN BOLTON

In a case heard at Bolton Crown Court, Colin Lee Booth, a 44-year-old resident of Church Lane, Westhoughton, was found guilty of serious sexual misconduct involving a young girl. The incidents took place over a period spanning late 2012 and early 2013, with the court revealing disturbing details of Booth’s actions.

According to court records, Booth sexually assaulted the young girl at a private residence in late 2012. The assault was followed by a series of alarming incidents in which he exposed himself to her on four or five separate occasions at the beginning of 2013. These repeated exposures caused significant distress to the victim and were linked to Booth’s ongoing struggles with alcohol abuse.

Prosecutor Guy Mathieson highlighted that Booth’s alcohol consumption played a major role in these offenses. He explained, “He would consume a large amount of alcohol prior to these incidents.” Mathieson also pointed out that Booth had a prior conviction in 2011 for exposing himself to a female taxi driver, indicating a pattern of such behavior.

Booth’s defense attorney, Brian McKenna, emphasized that Booth’s actions were influenced by his alcohol addiction. He stated, “Each time the victim asked Mr Booth to stop, he did. This man has struggled with an alcohol addiction and it seems to have been a big factor in his life.” McKenna further explained that Booth’s recent conduct may have been exacerbated by financial difficulties, noting that Booth was declared bankrupt in 2010. The defense also highlighted Booth’s remorse, saying he is “sick” of his conduct and has been actively trying to address his issues.

Judge Timothy Stead, presiding over the case, acknowledged Booth’s guilty plea to one count of sexual assault and four counts of indecent exposure. The judge commented on the severity of the offenses, stating, “These offences wouldn’t have been as bad if you were immediately apologetic and had not done anything else, but on four other occasions you exposed yourself.”

Despite the gravity of the crimes, Judge Stead noted that Booth had taken steps to reform himself. He said, “But you have been sufficiently shocked by what you have done to make steps to do something about it. These steps have been significant, and I’m impressed by that.”

As part of his sentence, Booth was given a community order that requires him to enroll in a three-year sexual offenders program, focusing on addressing his alcohol abuse. Additionally, he was banned from working with children, aiming to prevent any future harm.

Overall, the case highlights the ongoing issues of alcohol dependency and its potential to contribute to criminal behavior, as well as the judicial system’s approach to balancing punishment with rehabilitation for offenders like Colin Booth from Westhoughton.