DARREN OLDHAM FROM BANBURY SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR ABUSING TWO 14-YEAR-OLD GIRLS IN SHEFFIELD AND CORNWALL

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community, Darren Oldham, a 35-year-old man from Banbury, was brought before Sheffield Crown Court on February 7, 2024, to face justice for the heinous sexual abuse of two young girls, both aged just 14 at the time of the offenses. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior, with Oldham exploiting the girls' vulnerability through the administration of alcohol and cannabis before assaulting them in separate incidents located in Rotherham and Cornwall, which occurred seven months apart.

Throughout the hearing, Oldham displayed a lack of remorse, sitting with his head in his hands as he listened to the devastating accounts of his victims. The judge, Recorder Ian Mullarkey, described Oldham as having 'no empathy whatsoever' for the girls he harmed. The judge emphasized the profound and lasting impact of Oldham's actions, stating that his sexual abuse had 'touched almost every aspect' of the victims' lives and had caused 'perhaps irreparable damage.'

One of the victims, who has chosen to remain anonymous, shared her emotional testimony with the court. She explained that she has not been in education since the abuse, missing out on her GCSEs, and has experienced significant weight loss, dropping from eight and a half stone to six stone as she struggles to come to terms with her trauma. She described her feelings of alienation, saying, 'I do not feel like myself anymore. After the abuse, I couldn't shower or do anything without breaking into tears. I even began to see my own granddad differently.' She also revealed that her pre-existing anxiety and depression have worsened considerably since the incident.

In a direct statement to Oldham, her fellow victim expressed the profound psychological damage inflicted upon her. She told him, 'You ruined my mental health, you made me want to take my own life because of the trauma you caused. I struggle going to school. I feel like every male will hurt me. You made me feel like that. I feel a shell of a person who's angry because of the trauma in my life.' Her words underscored the deep scars left by Oldham's actions, and she concluded with a stark warning: 'I hope you get punished, you deserve to rot in jail.'

The court heard that Oldham's abuse was carried out in separate incidents, with the two girls not knowing each other. Prosecutor Michael Collins detailed that Oldham had given both girls alcohol prior to the assaults. In both cases, the victims were rendered unconscious—one after being given cannabis, and the other after Oldham forced her head back, causing her to hit it on a rock—yet he continued his assault while they were incapacitated. The girls awoke to find Oldham on top of them, a fact that added to the court's perception of the severity and predatory nature of his crimes.

Recorder Mullarkey condemned Oldham's actions, stating, 'What we have here are two 14-year-old girls intoxicated by you, asleep or unconscious. It's difficult to think of a more vulnerable situation.' He further criticized Oldham for his pattern of plying young girls with intoxicants, highlighting the calculated nature of his offenses. The court was told that after abusing one girl, Oldham pretended to be asleep when she pushed him off, and he fled the scene after the other girl screamed for help.

Oldham had been wanted by South Yorkshire Police for several months before being located and charged in November 2023. He subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of assault on a female aged 13 or over by penetration with a part of the body or an object during an earlier hearing.

During the sentencing, defense lawyer James Baird acknowledged Oldham's guilty pleas as a mitigating factor, noting that they were 'effectively entered' at his first court appearance. Baird provided context about Oldham's troubled background, revealing that he was taken into care at the age of 11, began abusing drugs at around 12 or 13, and has a serious alcohol problem. He also mentioned that Oldham's substance misuse worsened following the death of his daughter, and that he was intoxicated at the time of both sets of offenses. However, Baird clarified that these issues do not excuse his actions.

Judge Mullarkey summarized the court's findings, stating, 'You have no empathy whatsoever for the victims of your offending, and fail to recognize the seriousness of your actions.' As a result, Oldham was sentenced to nine years in prison, with an extended license period of three years, bringing his total sentence to 12 years. The court's decision reflects the gravity of his crimes and the need to protect the community from further harm.