GRAHAM WALSH SENTENCED FOR CHILD RAPE IN DARWEN AFTER POLICE WERE WARNED

In April 2004, a disturbing case unfolded involving Graham Walsh, a man from Darwen, who was convicted of heinous sexual offenses against a minor. The case drew attention not only because of the severity of his crimes but also due to prior warnings that had been issued to authorities about his potential danger to children.

Sharon, Walsh's former wife, publicly revealed that she had informed police and social services about her concerns regarding Walsh's propensity for sex offenses against children as early as four years before his arrest. She expressed her frustration and confusion over how Walsh was able to secure employment as a school caretaker and carry out a nine-month series of assaults despite these warnings.

Authorities responded by stating that the earlier allegations against Walsh had been thoroughly investigated. However, at that time, in early 2001, only actual convictions could be disclosed to the public or to institutions such as schools. As a result, the details of Walsh's previous behavior were not shared with St Peter's Church of England School in Darwen, where he was employed. Had Walsh applied for his caretaker position after March 2002, when the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) was established, his troubling history would have been uncovered through enhanced disclosure checks. These checks now include not only convictions but also 'soft intelligence'—unsubstantiated allegations, unproven claims, and other non-conviction information that could indicate potential risks.

Graham Walsh, who resides on Melita Street in Darwen, was sentenced to nine years in prison by Judge Pamela Badley at Preston Crown Court. The sentence followed his conviction for the rape of a 16-year-old girl and multiple sexual assaults. The judge also imposed a three-year license period upon Walsh's release, during which he will be subject to strict conditions. Failure to comply with these conditions could result in his return to incarceration.

Walsh, a divorced father of one, was employed at St Peter's School from February 2001 until November 2002. His crimes involved a girl who was not a pupil at the school, and the assaults took place between March 2000 and January 2003. Although Walsh was actively committing these offenses while working as a caretaker, the social services and education authorities were unable to intervene earlier because the allegations concerning the assaults were not made until April 2003—five months after he had left his position.

Following his sentencing, Walsh was placed on the sex offenders' register for life and was banned from working with children. During the court proceedings, he smiled at his parents, who appeared in court, while his father shook his head in disbelief at the severity of the sentence. His former wife, Miss Whitehead, who married Walsh in 1994, expressed relief at the outcome, stating, “We wanted him to go down for a long time and he has. I hope now his victim can get on with her life and move forward.”

The Blackburn with Darwen education authority acknowledged that current vetting procedures could not always prevent individuals with no prior criminal record from posing a danger. Judge Badley emphasized that the sentence was necessary to reflect the harm inflicted on Walsh's victim during the nine-month campaign of abuse and to serve as a deterrent to others. She highlighted that the minimum sentence for child rape is eight years and recommended Walsh participate in re-education programs for sex offenders while incarcerated. The judge also described the emotional toll on the victim, who reported feeling controlled, isolated, and emotionally scarred by the abuse, which severely impacted her confidence and social life.