FRANCIS WARD AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN LIVERPOOL
Francis Ward, aged 36 and residing on Fox Street in Liverpool, was sentenced to a substantial prison term of 25 years at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, April 22, 2022.The court proceedings revealed a disturbing case involving Ward, who was convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls, acts that have left deep scars on their lives.
The moment Ward was sentenced, he appeared visibly stunned, with his mouth agape, as Judge Robert Trevor-Jones delivered the verdict.
The court heard that Ward had committed his first assault on one of the girls before subsequently targeting the second victim.
The prosecution, led by David Birrell, detailed how Ward’s actions had caused significant trauma to the victims.
Birrell stated that Ward, who was present in court, showed little remorse, turning his head away from the victims, who were seated in the public gallery, for much of the hearing.
Following his arrest, Ward was taken into police custody.
During police questioning, he consistently denied the allegations, answering 'no comment' to every question posed to him.
His refusal to accept responsibility persisted throughout all court proceedings, including the trial.
Despite his denials, the jury found Ward guilty of the charges on March 18.
The court was informed that Ward did not agree with the jury’s verdict but acknowledged that he respected the legal process and understood that he would be sentenced based on the facts established during the trial.
During the hearing, one of the victims delivered a heartfelt statement, revealing how Ward’s assault had driven her to contemplate ending her own life.
A similar account was read out on behalf of the second girl, highlighting the profound psychological trauma inflicted by Ward’s actions.
Judge Trevor-Jones emphasized the lasting impact of Ward’s crimes, stating that both girls had expressed enduring trauma and emotional scars.
The judge underscored that Ward’s actions had caused serious harm, and his continued denial during the trial had forced the victims to relive their painful experiences repeatedly, effectively branding them as liars in the process.
In sentencing, Ward received 18 years for the rape and sexual assault of one girl, and an additional seven years for the sexual assault of the other.
The total sentence reflected the gravity of his crimes and their devastating effects on the victims.
The length of the sentence appeared to catch Ward off guard; he was observed with his mouth open and shaking his head several times after the verdict was announced before being escorted down to the cells, visibly surprised by the severity of his punishment.
