SCARBOROUGH CHILD MOLESTER ERIC SOWDEN SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS FOR HISTORIC SEX OFFENCES IN YORK
In a case that has spanned decades, 88-year-old Eric William Sowden faces the possibility of spending his remaining days behind bars after being convicted of multiple historic child sex offences.Sowden, who recently resided in Columbus Ravine, Scarborough, was sentenced to six years in prison at York Crown Court this week following his guilty plea to a series of indecent assaults and acts of gross indecency committed against six young girls during the late 1970s.
The court was informed that Sowden exploited his position within his family to lure young relatives, using them as bait to attract other vulnerable girls.
These girls, all aged between six and eight years old, were brought to his residence in York, where he subjected them to various indecent acts over several days during the summer of 1979.
The court heard that Sowden’s abuse was both solitary and witnessed, with some victims being assaulted in front of each other.
In an attempt to groom his victims, Sowden also gave gifts, including Mr Men books and a cactus, as part of his manipulative tactics.
This case is not Sowden’s first encounter with the justice system.
He was previously imprisoned in 1988 for similar offences committed during the same period.
After serving his sentence, he was released in 1990.
The recent charges against him emerged after a woman reported her experience to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in York in December 2014.
Over time, she gained the confidence to formally report her allegations to the police.
Another woman, who was undergoing treatment at Bootham Hospital in 2011, confided in medical staff about the sexual abuse she endured as a child.
The court was also presented with a victim impact statement from a woman now in her forties, who described the lasting effects of Sowden’s actions.
She stated, “He has been able to live a full life, seemingly without remorse.
He hasn’t suffered, but has made others suffer instead.
He not only hurt me then as a young child, but his actions have hurt me every day of my life since.” During the proceedings, Sowden’s defense attorney, Laura Addy, expressed that her client felt remorse for his past actions.
However, Judge Andrew Stubbs QC pointed out that Sowden had previously told police during his first interview that the women’s allegations were fabricated.
Ms Addy further explained that since his release from prison 27 years ago, Sowden had led a largely isolated life, with no family or close friends, and only a few jobs.
She described him as a “very lonely and isolated individual,” suggesting that his solitude might have been a conscious choice to prevent further offending.
Ms Addy also noted that Sowden’s time in custody had provided him with clarity, and he now understood that prison “may be where he ends his days.” She acknowledged that Sowden was “scared about going into custody,” but also recognized that his feelings mirrored those of the children he abused, who likely experienced fear and helplessness.
Judge Stubbs sentenced Sowden to six years in prison and ordered him to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.
Addressing Sowden directly, the judge described him as “an offender of particular concern,” emphasizing the profound and ongoing impact his crimes have had on his victims.
The judge also remarked that Sowden’s previous conviction in 1988 should have served as a wake-up call, an opportunity to confront his past and seek help, but instead, he continued to offend.
The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of Sowden’s actions and the lasting scars inflicted upon his victims.
