ERIK EASTMAN SHOCKS ROCK FERRY AND LIVERPOOL WITH HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE CASE AND DEATH IN WALTON JAIL

In a tragic and disturbing case that has left the community of Rock Ferry and the wider Liverpool area reeling, Eric Eastman, a man with a dark history of sexual offenses, met his untimely death in Walton jail. Eastman, aged 72 at the time of his passing in March 2019, succumbed to heart failure caused by complications from throat cancer and lung disease, after his application for compassionate leave was denied by prison authorities.

The criminal case against Eastman was equally shocking. In May 2018, a court heard harrowing details of his abuse of a young girl, which spanned over a decade. The victim, who was just four years old when the abuse began, endured years of systematic sexual assault until she was 17. It was only in December of the previous year that she finally confided in her mother, and subsequently reported the abuse to the police.

During the trial at Liverpool Crown Court, the court was informed that Eastman had a military background, having served in the Territorial Army in Liverpool. Court documents revealed that he sometimes wore his military uniform while committing his heinous acts of sexual violence. The victim’s suffering was described as “unspeakable,” with the judge, Steven Everett, condemning Eastman as “totally evil.” Judge Everett emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating, “It is difficult to see a more serious case of sexual abuse where one victim was involved.”

The court heard that Eastman’s offenses began with grooming and escalated over time. The victim was subjected to repeated rape, with the judge describing her as “an object” in Eastman’s eyes. The sentencing reflected the gravity of his crimes, with Eastman being sentenced to 16 years in prison. Additionally, the judge imposed a one-year extended license period, indicating that Eastman would not be eligible for automatic release at the halfway point of his sentence. Instead, his release would be determined by the Parole Board, given the particularly concerning nature of his offenses.

Eastman, who resided on Fieldside Road in Rock Ferry, Wirral, pleaded guilty to 21 charges, including rape and indecent assault. Some of these charges, due to recent legal changes, would now be classified explicitly as rape. Prosecutor Sarah Holt detailed that Eastman began abusing the girl when she was just four years old, and by the age of seven, he was raping her at various locations, including his upholstery shop on Borough Road in Birkenhead.

The victim, whose identity remains protected, delivered a heartfelt impact statement. She expressed that she had “lost my childhood and innocence” and struggled with feelings of low self-worth throughout her life. The court was told she has battled anxiety and mental health issues as a result of her trauma. She recounted a particularly harrowing moment when she was tempted to run into her abuser while he was working with a bandsaw in his shop, contemplating severing his head but fearing she lacked the strength and that he might kill her instead.

As part of his sentence, Eastman was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. His death in Walton jail marked a tragic end to a life marred by heinous crimes, leaving a community to grapple with the memories of his actions and the loss of justice that his passing represents.