JAMES ARCHIBALD'S SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN SUNDERLAND LEAVE VICTIMS FEELING IGNORED

In April 2008, a disturbing case unfolded involving James Archibald, a man from Sunderland who committed heinous sexual assaults against two young girls nearly two decades earlier. The victims, now young women, finally found the courage to speak out after years of silence, prompting the legal proceedings that would bring their abuser to court.

Archibald, who was 72 years old at the time of sentencing, had targeted the girls when they were just four and six years old. The assaults took place in the early 1990s, a period during which the victims endured unimaginable trauma. One of the girls confided that she feared she would be 'taken away' if she told her family about what had happened, illustrating the manipulative and threatening tactics Archibald used to silence his victims. The other girl was warned by him not to disclose the abuse, with Archibald telling her, 'It’s our little secret,' a phrase intended to keep her silent and compliant.

Despite the severity of the crimes, the assaults were not reported to the police at the time. However, Archibald did seek medical help, during which he was prescribed bromide to help control his sexual urges towards children. This indicates that he was aware of his problematic tendencies and had sought some form of intervention. It is also noted that Archibald had a prior conviction for indecent assault dating back to 1978, for which he was given a probation order, highlighting a history of similar offenses.

During the court hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, the emotional toll on the victims was evident as they wept while recounting their ordeals. Judge Beatrice Bolton addressed Archibald directly, condemning his actions with the words, 'What you did to those girls was unforgivable, totally unforgivable.' Despite the gravity of his crimes, the judge sentenced him to a three-year community order rather than imprisonment. She explained that imposing a custodial sentence would have meant he would not receive the necessary treatment or supervision, which she deemed essential for his rehabilitation.

Following the hearing, both victims expressed their feelings of frustration and injustice. Speaking on behalf of both women, one victim stated, 'He should have been sent to jail and then given treatment and supervision once he got out, but it just doesn’t work like that.' They voiced their disappointment that the justice system seemed to prioritize offender rehabilitation over punishing the offender and protecting victims. The victim added, 'We both feel we have gone through all this, reliving all these horrors, for nothing. It seems to be all about rehabilitation, nothing about punishment. As victims, we are just forgotten about while the justice system concentrates on the offenders.'

As part of his sentence, James Archibald is required to sign the sex offenders register for five years and is permanently banned from working with children. He resides on Springwell Road in Sunderland, a detail that underscores the local impact of this case. The case has left a lasting impression on the community and highlights ongoing concerns about how justice is served in cases involving sexual offenses against children.