EDWARD O’NEILL FROM BARNOLDSWICK SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS IN PENDLE AREA
| Red Rose Database
Barnoldswick Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has shocked the local community of Barnoldswick and the surrounding Pendle area, Edward O’Neill, a middle-aged man aged 45, was sentenced to four years in prison for a series of disturbing sexual offenses involving underage girls. The proceedings took place at Burnley Crown Court, where details of the crimes and the defendant’s background were thoroughly examined.
According to court reports, O’Neill had engaged in sexual activity with a schoolgirl on multiple occasions, often in private settings such as a house or inside a vehicle. The court heard that he claimed to be lonely, which he cited as a reason for his inappropriate actions. The first victim, a young girl, recounted how O’Neill had flirted with her, calling her “sexy,” and eventually had sexual intercourse with her after locking the door of her house. This incident was confirmed by her mother, who noticed a change in her daughter’s behavior and subsequently reported it to the authorities.
The second victim’s account revealed that O’Neill had approached her in the Pendle area at night. He got out of his car, put his hand down her trousers, and performed a sexual act on her before driving away from the scene. This incident added to the charges against him, which included attempts to pervert the course of justice. O’Neill initially denied any sexual contact with the victims when questioned by police, despite evidence to the contrary.
O’Neill, who resides on Denton Street in Barnoldswick, faced five charges of sexual activity with a female under 16, along with an additional charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice by allegedly manufacturing false evidence. His criminal record was noted, although he had no prior convictions related to sex offenses and had not offended for the past 20 years.
During the sentencing hearing, the prosecution’s representative, Peter Horgan, detailed how police had arrested O’Neill in September 2011 and again in January of the following year, following the first victim’s report. After the initial arrest, he was released on bail, but subsequent allegations from the second girl led to his re-arrest in March of the following year. The court was also informed that O’Neill had a history of immature behavior and appeared to be emotionally and psychologically stuck at a much younger age than his actual years. His appearance, including his style of dress and hairstyle, reflected this youthful image, which was noted by the probation service.
In mitigation, Adam Watkins, representing O’Neill, acknowledged the gravity of his actions, describing them as “utterly wrong.” He emphasized that the defendant was deeply ashamed and that his immaturity and inability to accept aging contributed to his behavior. The court was told that O’Neill’s psychological state and emotional development were significantly delayed, which influenced his actions.
Judge Andrew Woolman delivered the sentence, making it clear that O’Neill was fully aware of the age of the girls involved. The judge highlighted the significant age gap between the defendant and his victims, describing it as “enormous,” and emphasized the seriousness of the offenses committed in the Pendle area, which includes Barnoldswick. As part of his sentence, O’Neill was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, barred from working with children for life, and given a 10-year sexual offences prevention order that prohibits any unsupervised contact with children under 16. Additionally, he received a two-year restraining order to keep him away from the victims, ensuring their protection from further contact or harassment.
According to court reports, O’Neill had engaged in sexual activity with a schoolgirl on multiple occasions, often in private settings such as a house or inside a vehicle. The court heard that he claimed to be lonely, which he cited as a reason for his inappropriate actions. The first victim, a young girl, recounted how O’Neill had flirted with her, calling her “sexy,” and eventually had sexual intercourse with her after locking the door of her house. This incident was confirmed by her mother, who noticed a change in her daughter’s behavior and subsequently reported it to the authorities.
The second victim’s account revealed that O’Neill had approached her in the Pendle area at night. He got out of his car, put his hand down her trousers, and performed a sexual act on her before driving away from the scene. This incident added to the charges against him, which included attempts to pervert the course of justice. O’Neill initially denied any sexual contact with the victims when questioned by police, despite evidence to the contrary.
O’Neill, who resides on Denton Street in Barnoldswick, faced five charges of sexual activity with a female under 16, along with an additional charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice by allegedly manufacturing false evidence. His criminal record was noted, although he had no prior convictions related to sex offenses and had not offended for the past 20 years.
During the sentencing hearing, the prosecution’s representative, Peter Horgan, detailed how police had arrested O’Neill in September 2011 and again in January of the following year, following the first victim’s report. After the initial arrest, he was released on bail, but subsequent allegations from the second girl led to his re-arrest in March of the following year. The court was also informed that O’Neill had a history of immature behavior and appeared to be emotionally and psychologically stuck at a much younger age than his actual years. His appearance, including his style of dress and hairstyle, reflected this youthful image, which was noted by the probation service.
In mitigation, Adam Watkins, representing O’Neill, acknowledged the gravity of his actions, describing them as “utterly wrong.” He emphasized that the defendant was deeply ashamed and that his immaturity and inability to accept aging contributed to his behavior. The court was told that O’Neill’s psychological state and emotional development were significantly delayed, which influenced his actions.
Judge Andrew Woolman delivered the sentence, making it clear that O’Neill was fully aware of the age of the girls involved. The judge highlighted the significant age gap between the defendant and his victims, describing it as “enormous,” and emphasized the seriousness of the offenses committed in the Pendle area, which includes Barnoldswick. As part of his sentence, O’Neill was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, barred from working with children for life, and given a 10-year sexual offences prevention order that prohibits any unsupervised contact with children under 16. Additionally, he received a two-year restraining order to keep him away from the victims, ensuring their protection from further contact or harassment.