PAUL CLARKE FROM LISNASKEA SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING A TEENAGE GIRL IN DUNGANNON

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Lisnaskea, Paul Clarke, a 45-year-old man from Castlebalfour, was sentenced to a year in prison for serious sexual offences committed against a young female. The court proceedings, held at Dungannon Crown Court, revealed disturbing details about Clarke’s actions and the subsequent legal consequences he faces.

Clarke pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of indecent assault and three counts of gross indecency involving the girl, with the offences spanning from July 31, 2008, to November 28, 2008. The court was told that Clarke, who is married and a father of three, had engaged in a series of inappropriate acts with the girl, starting when she was just 16 years old. The victim, visibly distressed, was emotional as the prosecution outlined the case.

Prosecutor Simon Reid detailed that the first indecent assault occurred when Clarke was 40 and the girl was 16. During this incident, Clarke was giving her a lift in his car, during which he kissed her and touched her breasts and genitals, both over and under her clothing. Over the following four months, Clarke allegedly made persistent requests for oral sex, which the girl performed in his kitchen beside the sink. The court also heard that Clarke and the girl engaged in full sexual intercourse during this period.

Mr. Reid emphasized that the girl was in fear of Clarke but did not report any use of force. She later expressed feelings of manipulation, as Clarke had told her he loved her, which complicated her emotional state. The prosecution highlighted that the girl had developed feelings for Clarke, despite the significant age difference, and that Clarke exploited this emotional vulnerability for his own gratification.

The case came to light after the girl’s mother received an anonymous tip-off from someone who had observed Clarke and her leaving a public toilet together. The mother contacted the police, but a formal complaint was only made in May 2011, after a more experienced officer was assigned to investigate the case. The delay in reporting was noted, but the court acknowledged the circumstances surrounding the case.

Clarke’s actions were considered aggravated by his position of trust, the fact that he penetrated the victim’s mouth and vagina—including ejaculation—and that the incidents occurred over an extended period. The significant age gap and Clarke’s status as a trusted adult further compounded the severity of his offences. However, mitigating factors included the girl being nearly 17 at the time, which was just below the age of consent at the time of the offences, and the fact that the age of consent was lowered from 17 to 16 in February 2009, before the complaint was formally made. Additionally, Clarke is the primary carer for his children, one of whom has autism, which the court considered in its sentencing.

During the hearing, Clarke’s defence lawyer, Gavin Cairns, argued that Clarke deserved considerable credit because the girl was close to being able to consent. He suggested that there was a de-facto consensual relationship, citing correspondence between Clarke and the girl as evidence. Cairns also pointed out that Clarke had not used force or violence and that their relationship involved discussions of love, despite Clarke being married. He acknowledged that Clarke admitted the girl was too young and expressed remorse, stating, “I was older, I was married, it should never have happened.”

In the four years following the offences, Clarke and his wife had a third child, and the case has weighed heavily on him. He now bears the primary responsibility for parenting, which has been a significant burden. The defence also presented evidence of ongoing communication between Clarke and the girl, which they argued supported the notion of a consensual relationship. They proposed that a community order or a statutory supervision order would be appropriate, rather than immediate imprisonment.

However, Judge Geoffrey Miller emphasized that the court could not ignore the fact that Clarke’s initial inappropriate contact escalated into a sexual relationship. The judge pointed out that Clarke, being much older, used his position to pursue sexual relations with a vulnerable young girl. The judge acknowledged Clarke’s admission of physical attraction and mutual desire but underscored that the girl was too young and that there were “no excuses” for his actions. The judge stated that Clarke exploited her for personal, sexual, and emotional gratification, causing her significant harm.

In sentencing, Judge Miller stressed the importance of sending a clear message to deter others from similar conduct. While Clarke’s risk of re-offending was considered low due to his clean record apart from a minor driving offence in the 1980s, the court found his culpability to be high because of the age difference and the nature of the offences. Clarke was sentenced to 12 months in prison and placed under a three-year probation order. Additionally, he was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which prohibits him from contacting or communicating with any child under 18 without prior approval, from residing or staying overnight at any place without permission, and from working or applying to work with children. A Disqualification Order was also issued, preventing him from employment involving children.

This case underscores the serious consequences of abusing trust and exploiting vulnerable minors. The community of Lisnaskea and beyond is reminded of the importance of safeguarding children and holding offenders accountable for their actions.