FRANK MOUNTFORD FROM CHESTER-LE-STREET SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE AFTER DECADES

In a case that spanned over three decades, Frank William Mountford, a 74-year-old resident of Fife Avenue in Chester-Le-Street, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for the sexual abuse of a young girl. The lengthy legal process culminated in Durham Crown Court, where Mountford was found guilty of multiple charges related to indecent assault and indecency with a child.

Mountford’s criminal actions, which took place more than thirty years ago, only came to light after the victim, now an adult, decided to report the abuse. During the trial held in June, the court heard that Mountford had been given an opportunity to avoid incarceration by acknowledging his misconduct and offering a face-to-face apology to the victim. However, he chose to deny any wrongdoing and refused to accept responsibility for his actions.

The court proceedings revealed that the victim, who had initially considered forgiving Mountford if he had apologized, was deeply affected by his refusal to admit guilt. She had expressed that she would have accepted an apology had he been willing to acknowledge his misconduct directly. Instead, Mountford’s denial led her to report the abuse to authorities, initiating the legal process.

Throughout the trial, Mountford maintained his innocence, dismissing the allegations and suggesting that the victim might have had financial motives, such as seeking compensation or insurance payouts. Despite his denials, the jury unanimously convicted him on one count of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child after five days of deliberation.

Following the guilty verdicts, Judge Christopher Prince remanded Mountford into custody and adjourned sentencing to allow the victim to provide an updated impact statement. During the sentencing hearing, the judge imposed consecutive sentences of five, two, and two years, respectively. He noted that if the offenses had occurred more recently, Mountford could have faced sentences exceeding ten years. However, the judge emphasized that the sentences were appropriate given the time period in which the crimes took place.

It was also revealed that Mountford had a prior conviction involving a different victim, committed three years before the current offenses. His legal representative, Rachael Landin, argued that Mountford had led a largely law-abiding life for much of his adult years. Nonetheless, Judge Prince made it clear that the defendant’s threats to the victim, claiming she would not be believed, were unfounded, as the jury’s verdict proved her truthful.

The judge highlighted that the victim had taken the brave step of confronting Mountford and offering him an opportunity to confess and apologize, which could have prevented the trial and subsequent imprisonment. Instead, his refusal to accept responsibility resulted in his current sentence.

As part of his punishment, Mountford will be required to register as a sex offender for life and will be subject to restrictions under an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The court also addressed the victim’s impact statement, reassuring her that she bears no guilt for what happened, emphasizing that she was not at fault in any way.