CYRIL RUSSELL FROM EVERTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN LIVERPOOL

In a case that has shocked the local community, Cyril Russell, a 75-year-old man from Everton, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous crimes spanning over three decades. The allegations against Russell involve multiple counts of indecent assault committed against three young girls, with the earliest offenses dating back to the 1970s and continuing into the early 2000s.

Russell's trial, held last month at Liverpool Crown Court, revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse. The court found him guilty of 16 separate counts of indecent assault, which were committed over a period of approximately 30 years. The victims, all female minors aged between seven and 15 at the time of the assaults, endured a prolonged period of suffering at the hands of the accused.

Due to his frailty and health issues, Russell appeared via video link from prison during the sentencing hearing. The court was told that his offences had a devastating impact on the lives of the victims, who showed remarkable courage in coming forward after many years of silence. Judge Andrew Hatton, presiding over the case, emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating, “You were convicted on overwhelming, compelling evidence. Anyone who had the misfortune to sit through the trial cannot have failed to recognize the devastating impact your conduct had on the lives of all three of your victims.”

Judge Hatton further described Russell as a “serial abuser of children,” highlighting the long history of his offending. He noted that Russell targeted vulnerable young girls at tender ages, using threats and bribery to silence them. The victims, out of fear and shame, kept their suffering hidden for many years, fearing repercussions or the potential harm to their families if they reported the abuse earlier.

It was only in late 2011 that the victims found the courage to come forward and report the abuse, leading to Russell’s conviction. The defense, represented by Edmund Haygarth, a retired binman, acknowledged that there was limited mitigation for Russell’s actions. The court sentenced him to 18 months for the offences against his first victim, and two and a half years each for the crimes against the other two victims.

In addition to his prison sentence, Russell was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 17. This measure aims to prevent any further harm and protect potential future victims from the convicted offender.