JOHN DARBYSHIRE FROM BLACKBURN AND HASLINGDEN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AFTER 40 YEARS

In a case that has spanned over four decades, John Darbyshire, a 76-year-old resident of Blackburn, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses against a young girl. The crimes, which took place in Haslingden, only came to light after a lengthy investigation and a two-week trial at Burnley Crown Court.

Darbyshire, a father of two, was found guilty of two counts of rape, four counts of indecent assault, and two allegations of indecency with a child. The jury deliberated for nearly eight hours before reaching their verdicts. Despite his conviction on these charges, Darbyshire was acquitted of seven other child sex allegations made by another girl, also believed to have occurred many years ago.

The court heard that the victim, who was a primary school girl at the time, had suffered profound psychological trauma as a result of Darbyshire’s actions. She described how her childhood was stolen from her and how her adult life had been significantly affected. The victim recounted that she had kept silent about the abuse for many years, partly because Darbyshire had told her not to tell anyone. It was only after she looked at old photographs of herself that she was prompted to contact the police.

Prosecutor Louise Whaites explained that one of the photographs was of the victim as a four-year-old bridesmaid. Seeing this image made her feel as if she was observing a third party, which helped her realize that what had happened to her was not her fault. The victim eventually confided in her mother and a church deacon, revealing the extent of her suffering. Whaites emphasized that the victim had struggled to cope with her past and had blamed herself for many years.

The court was told that the victim’s initial report to police was made in May of the previous year, leading to Darbyshire’s arrest three months later. Throughout the trial, Darbyshire maintained his innocence, denying all allegations and claiming that the charges were “definitely not true.”

During sentencing, Recorder Paul Reid, QC, acknowledged the advanced age of Darbyshire and expressed some degree of mercy, though he emphasized the severity of the crimes. The judge highlighted the lasting psychological damage inflicted upon the victim, stating, “It’s plain to me from what I have seen and what I have heard that the victim has suffered considerable psychological damage. Her life and her relationships have been blighted by what you did to her.”

In her personal statement, the victim shared her ongoing struggles, saying, “I still wake up at night because I think about it. Not only did he steal my childhood, he damaged my adult life.” The judge ordered Darbyshire to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, but also expressed that he did not consider Darbyshire a current risk to society at the end of his prison term.

DCI Sion Hall commented on the case, stating, “The fact that these crimes were committed 40 years ago does not mean that we consider them any less seriously. We will always strive to bring criminals to justice no matter when offences were carried out.”

Following the sentencing, a neighbor of Darbyshire expressed her shock, saying, “He was a very nice bloke and I would never have thought that he would have done anything like that.” The case has left the local community in disbelief, highlighting the importance of justice and the enduring impact of childhood abuse.