MANS ABUSE WAS SO BAD HE'S JAILED FOR LONGER THAN MOST MURDERERS
A heinous case of child abuse led to the perpetrator being sentenced to a longer prison term than most murderers.Oliver Roughley, aged 24 and residing on Bailey Way in St Helens, inflicted a sustained campaign of sexual assault on a seven-year-old child over three years, which resulted in the young victim attempting to take his own life.
On Wednesday, Roughley was sentenced to 21 years in prison, although he continues to deny any wrongdoing.
At Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that Roughley committed the abuse during his late teenage years, grooming the boy by giving him gifts like toy cars and teddy bears.
He used violence, including twisting the child's arm, to maintain control over him.
Evidence showed Roughley kept a pair of the boy’s underwear in his bedroom and sent messages professing love for the child.
The first assault occurred when the boy was seven, involving inappropriate touching.
Roughley then threatened the young victim, warning him not to tell anyone or he would be sent to jail and never see him again.
His assault escalated to sexual intercourse in public swimming pool cubicles in South Liverpool and Splash World in Southport, where he threatened abandonment if the boy resisted.
The abuse also included performing sexual acts and leaving love bites, continuing until the boy was nine years old.
Police recovered 32 photographs on Roughley's phone, featuring the child naked and some including the offender, along with additional indecent images of other children stored on his computer.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Roughley maintains his innocence.
Many of the details presented during the trial were too horrific for public disclosure.
Court staff, visibly distressed, witnessed the emotional impact of the case.
A statement from the child’s mother highlighted the severe mental health consequences, stating her son had become a sad, angry individual who had attempted suicide multiple times.
He now avoids physical contact because he does not want to be touched.
Her statement emphasized the deep psychological scars inflicted, describing her son's life as profoundly disrupted and suggesting he may never fully recover.
She characterized his sentence as a metaphorical life sentence.
The child's grandmother also issued a stern statement condemning Roughley's actions, condemning him for depriving their grandson of innocence and childhood, and criticizing his apparent lack of remorse.
Defending solicitor David Watson acknowledged the limited options in mitigating Roughley's sentence, noting his lack of prior convictions and behavioral history outside the offenses.
He also highlighted Roughley's youth and immaturity, predicting a significant custodial sentence.
Roughley was convicted unanimously on multiple charges, including four counts of rape, six of sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and production and possession of indecent images, after a trial held in June.
During sentencing, he appeared emotional, shaking his head, then ultimately hung his head, closed his eyes, and cried.
Judge David Swinnerton sentenced Roughley, denouncing his actions as predatory and planned, noting they involved grooming and coercion over three years.
The judge emphasized the seriousness of his crimes, which damaged not only the child but also his entire family.
Roughley was accused of showing no remorse and continuing to deny any guilt.
The judge described the abuse as a sustained campaign of rape marked by extensive grooming and planning.
He also recognized a high risk of future offending, which could cause further harm.
Roughley was given an extended five-year license and a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, along with notification obligations.
He is required to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before considering parole.
Additionally, a lifelong restraining order bans him from contacting the victim or his family, and electronic devices seized during the investigation were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.
