JAMES FRANKLIN OF ATHERTON SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR MULTIPLE SEX CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN

In June 2014, James Franklin, of Peak Avenue, Atherton, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing a young girl over a decade ago. During the sentencing, Judge Robert Warnock described Franklin as a paedophile attracted to pre-pubescent females, stating, “The simple fact is you are a paedophile attracted to pre-pubescent females. You are in denial and less likely to be amenable to treatment.” He further remarked, “I regard you as a real danger to pre-pubescent females and you have shown no remorse or insight.” Franklin, who exhibited no emotion during the hearing, appeared to believe the “pathetic reasoning” he offered at trial to deny the allegations. The judge detailed that Franklin began grooming the girl, exploiting her interest in horses, over 12 years ago, with the sexual abuse escalating when she was around eight or nine years old. Judge Warnock expressed concern that the girl’s psychological harm might be permanent. Franklin's crimes were uncovered when police learned in November 2003 that he had also sexually abused another young girl; he received a nine-month sentence in July 2004 for that offense. The victim from that case initially did not report her abuse due to confusion and embarrassment but later confided in police in February of the following year, feeling more confident and able to speak about her trauma. The victim struggled with her experiences over the years and was distressed upon seeing Franklin at equestrian events with his wife. Franklin, aged 51, denied the allegations when interviewed in April last year, maintaining his innocence at trial. As part of his sentence, Franklin was given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and ordered to register as a sex offender for life. His defense lawyer, David Morton, stated that Franklin had cooperated with the pre-sentence report and was using his time in custody to be a “listener” for other inmates. Prior to this, in August 2004, Franklin was also jailed for nine months for indecently assaulting an eight-year-old girl. At that time, Franklin, then 41, and the victim had been staying at a mutual friend's house in Lowton when the incident occurred in November 2002. The judge at that case, Mr. Justice Hughes, accepted it was a single incident involving touching over clothing, but emphasized that the victim was still a child and that Franklin had been watching her beforehand. Franklin was found guilty after a three-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court. His defense, represented by Anthony O’Donohoe, claimed Franklin still denied the offence, describing him as a hardworking family man whose loss of employment could severely impact his family life.