November 2015 paedophile back behind bars after trial number 3 A PAEDOPHILE is beginning a nine year prison sentence after going on trial for offences against a young girl for the third time. In March 2013, at Bolton Crown Court, 58-year-old Nicholas West was convicted of a series of sexual assaults against a young girl and was jailed. But the following year he won an appeal against his conviction on the grounds that the judge’s summing up of the case to the jury was defective. West, of Elmwood Grove, Farnworth, was retried in April this year but the jury failed to reach a verdict and so a third case against him began this week. After a four-day trial a jury of eight women and four men at Bolton Crown Court unanimously found him guilty of five counts of indecent assault and a further three counts of indecency with a child. He was cleared of another five indecent assault charges. During the trial the jury heard how West used the girl, who he abused frequently between the ages of eight and 12, to satisfy his own sexual desires. The abuse against the victim, who is now in her 20s, had such a devastating effect upon her that she resorted to shaving her head because she wanted to be a boy and it went onto badly affect her life as an adult. She told police in an interview: “It got worse as I got older. I tried to blank it out for years. Everything came back. I could not handle it. I tried to forget it — I cannot.”  Sentencing West, who stood emotionless in the dock, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson said: “Regrettably you have shown no remorse for what you did — it was, quite frankly, dreadful. “This is effectively something she has had to live with and keep at the back of her mind for years.” April 2013 ‘Abhorrent’ predatory paedophile who sexually abused girl, 3, for DECADE jailed A ‘predatory paedophile’ who sexually abused a young girl in Greater Manchester for a decade – starting when she was just three-years-old – was jailed today. Nicholas West, 57, of no fixed address, but formerly of of Farnworth was convicted of 14 counts of indecent assault and sentenced to 12 years at Bolton Crown Court. Detective Constable Phil Sharpe said the victim’s childhood was destroyed as a result of West’s ‘abhorrent’ actions. “Some of her earliest recollections are of being abused by him and that is simply heartbreaking,” he added.  “He is a predatory paedophile who took advantage of a young and vulnerable girl but thanks to her bravery in coming forward he is now in prison where he belongs.” The police also hope that the jailing of West will encourage other victims of sexual offences to come forward so criminals of this nature can feel the full force of justice. “I hope this case might encourage anyone else who is currently suffering in silence to find the strength needed to contact the police and report sexual abuse,” DC Sharpe said.  “We have dedicated and specially trained officers on hand to listen to you and deal with your complaint sensitively.” Anyone who has been affected or knows someone who has been affected by sexual abuse can call  Greater Manchester Police on 101, or alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515.  St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault.