JASON HICKLING FROM SCUNTHORPE SENTENCED FOR SEVEN YEARS OF SYSTEMATIC ABUSE ON YOUNG GIRL
In June 2020, Jason Hickling, a 43-year-old man residing on Frodingham Road in Scunthorpe, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of systematically abusing a young girl over a period of seven years.The abuse was characterized by prolonged grooming, exploitation, and multiple instances of sexual assault, leaving the victim profoundly traumatized.
During the court proceedings at Grimsby Crown Court, prosecutor Michael Greenhalgh detailed the extent of Hickling’s misconduct.
It was revealed that Hickling had sexually assaulted the girl on at least 11 separate occasions.
His actions included intimate touching and engaging in sexual activities in her presence, all of which he carried out while exploiting her vulnerability and using bullying tactics to maintain control.
The court heard that Hickling’s offending was not a one-time event but a pattern of predatory behavior that escalated in severity over the years.
The victim, whose identity remains protected, was left in a state of extreme distress.
She experienced intense anxiety, tearfulness, and feelings of isolation, which significantly impacted her ability to interact with others.
The trauma inflicted by Hickling’s perverted grooming and exploitation caused her to develop serious mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts.
Prosecutor Greenhalgh emphasized the profound psychological damage, stating, “She was anxious constantly about what had happened to her.
She doesn’t know if she will ever move on from what has happened.
It’s always there.
She is tearful regularly.
It plays over in her mind very often.” Judge Ahmed Nadim addressed Hickling directly during sentencing, condemning his actions as systematic and escalating in seriousness over time.
The judge pointed out that Hickling’s offending spanned seven years, during which he did not use any form of contraception, indicating a reckless disregard for the potential consequences of his actions.
The court noted that Hickling had reported himself to the police, but this was not driven by remorse; rather, it was motivated by the fear that he was about to be exposed.
Judge Nadim described the damage inflicted upon the girl as “extreme,” highlighting the severity of her suffering.
He remarked that her desperation was so profound that she seriously contemplated taking her own life.
As a result of his crimes, Hickling was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison.
Additionally, he was handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect others from potential harm in the future.
