HARRY COLLIER AND PAUL SNEDKER SENTENCED IN BLACKPOOL FOR VILE SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN AND WOMEN
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Blackpool, two men have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after being found guilty of a series of heinous historic sexual offences.The convictions stem from a trial held at Preston Crown Court, where jurors heard detailed accounts of abuse that spanned several decades, involving vulnerable victims including children and women.
Harry Anthony Collier, aged 63 and a former leisure worker from Mythop Road, South Shore, was sentenced to 23 years behind bars.
His conviction includes four counts of rape and 14 counts of indecent assault.
The court was told that Collier’s offending began when his first victim was between the ages of four and nine, with the abuse occurring over a period of years.
The trial revealed that Collier indecently assaulted this young girl during her childhood, causing lifelong trauma.
In addition to these early abuses, Collier was convicted of raping a woman in Blackpool in 1988.
The court heard that his criminal activities extended further, involving a campaign of sexual violence against a second child.
During this period, Collier also collaborated with Paul Snedker in attacking the young girl, further compounding the severity of his crimes.
Witnesses described how, prior to some assaults, the victims were given cider or white pills—substances that reportedly burned the back of one girl’s throat but also appeared to relax her—before being taken to a bedroom where the abuse occurred.
Disturbingly, other individuals were present during some of these assaults, adding to the trauma experienced by the victims.
Paul Snedker, who has no fixed address, was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
His convictions include two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault.
The court established that Snedker played an active role in the attacks, particularly in aiding Collier during the assault on the second child.
The trial detailed the disturbing nature of the offences, which took place in the 1970s and 1980s, and highlighted the long-lasting impact on the victims.
Both men were also subjected to indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs) and indefinite notification orders, ensuring they remain under supervision and monitoring for the foreseeable future.
These measures are designed to prevent any further offences and to protect the public from potential reoffending.
After serving their respective prison sentences, Collier will be required to serve an additional two years on licence, while Snedker will serve an extra year on licence, reflecting the seriousness of their crimes and the need for ongoing supervision.
