HENRY HEATON'S TRAGIC END IN RUNCORN: LIVERPOOL CROWN COURT SENTENCE AND DEATH IN PRISON

In April 2019, the life of Henry Heaton, a 91-year-old man from Runcorn, came to a tragic end while he was incarcerated at Aintree Hospital, following a lengthy and disturbing history of criminal behavior involving the abuse of a young boy. Heaton, who had been convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault, died just one year into a ten-year prison sentence handed down by Liverpool Crown Court.

At the time of his sentencing in May of the previous year, Heaton was visibly unwell. During the proceedings, he suddenly collapsed in the courtroom, prompting the judge to conclude the hearing without him. The court was informed that Heaton had been suffering from a series of serious health issues, including a stroke, colon and prostate cancers, vascular dementia, and anemia. His health had deteriorated further while he was confined to the prison’s hospital wing, and he was transferred to Aintree Hospital in January after tests revealed dangerously low hemoglobin levels and a urinary tract infection.

According to Liverpool Coroner Andre Rebello, who held an inquest at the Gerard Majella Courthouse in Kirkdale, Heaton’s condition worsened progressively. He was described as unresponsive to treatment, increasingly confused, and gravely ill. His death on March 19 was attributed to pneumonia and kidney damage, with the coroner recording a verdict of natural causes.

Heaton’s criminal history was marked by heinous acts committed decades earlier. Born in Liverpool, he had been living in Chester Close, Runcorn, at the time of his arrest and conviction. His crimes against a six-year-old boy, who had already suffered neglect and physical abuse from his parents, spanned back to the 1960s in Huyton. Heaton had befriended the young victim, offering sweets and taking him to the cinema, ostensibly as a means of grooming him for abuse.

The court heard that Heaton forced the boy to perform sexual acts and raped him in the auditorium and toilets of a Liverpool cinema. The abuse extended to an address in Huyton, where Heaton, along with an unidentified man, continued to assault the child. The victim’s suffering persisted until he was old enough to escape, with the court noting that the abuse only ceased when the boy was able to run away from his tormentors.

During the sentencing hearing in May 2018, Judge Gary Woodhall described the victim’s background, highlighting the neglect and violence he endured at home. The victim’s father was said to have beaten him regularly, often punishing him by locking him outside in the coal bunker overnight. The judge emphasized that these traumatic circumstances contributed to the victim seeking attention elsewhere, making him vulnerable to predators like Heaton.

Prosecutor Martyn Walsh recounted how the trauma inflicted by Heaton’s abuse led the victim to start drinking alcohol at the age of 13, which subsequently spiraled into heroin addiction. The victim, now an adult, delivered a harrowing statement in court, expressing his despair and anger. He stated, “I just wanted to take so many drugs that I never woke up. I didn’t care whether I died or not… He stole my childhood and the rest of my life as well. I will never be rid of the horrible things he did to me. I despise Henry for what he has done to me. I don’t want him to die thinking he got away with what he has done to me.”

Despite his suffering, the victim managed to overcome his heroin addiction through counseling, but he continues to struggle with flashbacks and intrusive thoughts related to the abuse. Heaton was convicted of 15 counts of indecent assault after a week-long trial, with the jury finding him guilty of these heinous crimes.

In the same year, Heaton, then aged 90, had collapsed in the courtroom during his sentencing, which was a dramatic and distressing moment. He was taken to hospital after losing consciousness and was assisted into a wheelchair by prison staff before being transported by ambulance. Despite his sudden absence, the judge proceeded with the sentencing, ultimately imposing a ten-year prison term.

During the sentencing, Judge Woodhall acknowledged the difficult circumstances of Heaton’s case, noting that the defendant had no prior convictions and was in the early stages of vascular dementia, with a diagnosis of cancer. His defense attorney, Anthony O’Donohoe, expressed that there was little he could say in Heaton’s defense, given his client’s denials and advanced age. The judge also classified Heaton as an “offender of particular concern,” meaning he could only be released early if a parole board determined he was no longer a threat to the public. Additionally, Heaton was ordered to remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Today, the tragic culmination of Henry Heaton’s life and crimes underscores the profound impact of his actions on his victims and the justice system. His death in prison marks the end of a long and disturbing chapter, but the scars left on his victims remain deeply etched in their lives.