CRAIG TILLOTSON SHOCKS BLACKBURN WITH DECADES-OLD CHILD ABUSE REVELATIONS

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Blackburn community, Craig Tillotson, a man with a disturbing history of child sexual abuse, has been sentenced to eight more years behind bars for offenses committed in the 1980s. The details of his crimes reveal a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several years and involved vulnerable young victims.

According to court records, Tillotson, now aged 48, targeted two schoolboys during the mid-1980s in the vicinity of Church, near Accrington. His preferred location for these heinous acts was an area known locally as The Fairy Caves, an old kiln site situated near the canal. It was here that he lured one of his victims under the pretense of allowing him to fire an air rifle, a ruse that concealed his true intent. To gain the boy’s trust, Tillotson bought gifts, which he then used as tools to facilitate repeated acts of sexual abuse.

The court heard that these crimes left the victims deeply traumatized. The abuse was not an isolated incident; it was part of a disturbing pattern that spanned several years. The second victim, who came forward in 2009, recounted how he had seen Tillotson talking to two boys and became concerned that he might target them as well. Fearing for their safety, the second victim reported his suspicions to the police, which eventually led to the uncovering of Tillotson’s long history of offending.

Prior to these recent convictions, Tillotson had already served a prison sentence of four and a half years for three counts of indecent assault against another boy. The earlier incident occurred in 1990 when he was 27 years old. During that attack, he forcibly tried to assault the boy by pushing him against a wall and attempting to put his hand down the child’s trousers. Fortunately, the victim managed to kick free and escape, but the court found Tillotson guilty of indecent assault in that case as well.

Throughout the proceedings, probation officers reported that Tillotson showed no remorse or contrition for his actions. Despite cooperating with his license conditions, he refused to address or discuss the underlying issues and distorted thinking that contributed to his offending behavior. His criminal record and ongoing dangerousness prompted the court to impose strict measures to protect the public.

Craig Tillotson, who resides on Accrington Road in Blackburn, was convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses, including one count of a serious sexual offense, one count of attempted serious sexual offense, five counts of indecent assault, and one count of indecency with a child. As part of his sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and issued a lifetime sexual offences prevention order. This order prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with children under 16 and restricts him from allowing any child under 16 into his home unless accompanied by an approved adult over the age of 21.

Judge Beverley Lunt, presiding over the case, emphasized the importance of these restrictions, stating, “I am satisfied it is necessary to make a sexual offences prevention order in order to prevent you causing serious sexual harm to other children.”

Prosecutor Rob Kearney detailed the timeline of the abuse, confirming that the misconduct against both victims began in 1984. The second victim, who came forward in 2009, expressed his concern after witnessing Tillotson talking to two boys, fearing he might repeat his past offenses. This concern prompted him to report the matter to the police, leading to the recent convictions.

Elizabeth Nicholls, representing Tillotson, argued that since serving his initial prison term, her client had not reoffended. She stated, “Since his release on licence, he has not repeated this sort of conduct,” attempting to mitigate the severity of his current sentence. However, the court’s decision reflects the ongoing threat posed by Tillotson and the need to safeguard the community from further harm.