DAVID FITZGIBBON SENTENCED IN WALTON FOR CHILD ABUSE AND SEXUAL OFFENSES

In a case that has left the Walton community shaken, David Fitzgibbon, aged 54, was sentenced to a total of six years and eight months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young girl and her son. Fitzgibbon, a resident of Parkvale Road in Walton, pleaded guilty to nine counts of indecent assault on a child, revealing the full extent of his disturbing actions during the court proceedings.

Prosecutor Mr. Polglase detailed the chilling nature of Fitzgibbon’s abuse, recounting how he would lure his young victims into his private space with the promise of coins, telling them, “it was our little secret.” The court heard that Fitzgibbon’s predatory behavior began when he called the young girl into his room, where he engaged in inappropriate acts such as kissing her on the mouth with his tongue and forcibly touching her. Following these assaults, he would give her 50p and instruct her to keep silent about what had transpired, further manipulating her into silence.

Mr. Polglase described the victim’s emotional trauma, quoting her impact statement which vividly illustrated the long-lasting damage inflicted by Fitzgibbon’s sickening abuse. The woman, who was only 13 at the time, revealed that she turned to alcohol and heroin as a means of coping with her trauma. She explained, “At the age of 13, still traumatised by what I had gone through, I turned to drink. I would drink every day and also tried Class A drugs. I tried heroin at 13, I didn’t know how to deal with everything so I would get intoxicated to block it out.”

Her struggles with substance abuse persisted into adulthood, leading to periods of incarceration. Despite her hardships, she expressed hope that the court’s decision might help her begin to rebuild her life. The court also heard that Fitzgibbon’s predatory behavior extended beyond the initial victim, as he later targeted her son. The prosecutor stated that Fitzgibbon would touch the boy’s penis and would tell him, “You’re my mate aren’t you? This is our little secret.”

A second victim, the young boy, provided a statement describing his feelings of shame and embarrassment. He said, “The horrible traumatic things that David Fitzgibbon did to me will remain with me forever. He took something away from me before I was old enough to know better. I hope that by sending him to prison I will finally start to get some form of closure and satisfaction. The scars will always remain with me. He took my childhood away from me and the chance to feel like a normal man.”

The court was told that these painful secrets only came to light earlier this year when the now adult victim confided in his mother about the abuse. Following this revelation, the pair reported the matter to the police in February. Fitzgibbon, who had worked as a council litter picker for 24 years, was subsequently arrested and charged.

In addition to his prison sentence, Fitzgibbon was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his movements and contact with the victims. An indefinite restraining order was also imposed, prohibiting him from ever contacting the victims again.

As Fitzgibbon was taken away in handcuffs, the victim, overwhelmed with emotion, shouted through tears, “I hope you rot you f***** rat,” expressing her anger and pain at his sentencing.