PAUL EVANS FROM PADIHAM SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN EAST LANCASHIRE

In a high-profile case that has shocked the community of East Lancashire, Paul Evans, a 60-year-old man from Padiham, was handed a severe prison sentence after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving young girls. The sentencing took place at Burnley Crown Court, where the court heard detailed accounts of Evans' disturbing actions and the evidence that led to his conviction.

Evans was sentenced to a total of 20 years and three months behind bars. Additionally, the judge imposed a five-year extended sentence, citing the defendant's continued danger to the public. The court was told that Evans' actions and the language used in his online exchanges revealed a deeply twisted perception of child sexual exploitation, which the judge described as indicative of a dangerous and fixated paedophile.

The case came to light after Evans was caught during a sting operation conducted by Kent Police. Undercover officers, posing as fellow sex offenders in internet chat rooms, engaged with Evans in a series of exchanges that revealed his disturbing views and intentions. During these conversations, Evans openly expressed that sex with children was ‘fantastic’ and suggested that children ‘should be able to enjoy it as well’. The court was also informed that Evans disparaged most ordinary people as ‘narrow-minded do-gooders’ and criticized victims of high-profile historical abuse allegations, such as Jimmy Savile, claiming that they wanted their abuse to be known and sought compensation.

Paul Evans, who resides on Grasmere Avenue in Padiham, admitted to multiple serious offences, including two counts of rape, sexual assault of a child under 13, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and the possession and distribution of indecent images of children. He denied two related charges concerning his online chat-room confessions to police, claiming that his disclosures were based on ‘fantasy’. However, Judge Robert Altham clarified that while Evans would not be sentenced for the chat-room admissions, the language used in his correspondence with undercover officers provided valuable insight into his distorted view of child sexual exploitation.

During the sentencing, Judge Altham described Evans as a “fixated paedophile” with a “twisted perception of the world,” emphasizing the danger he posed. The judge stated, “It seems to me that you are a fixated paedophile who has his own distorted perception of the world. That means you are a peculiarly dangerous man.”

The prosecution detailed the horrific nature of Evans’ crimes. It was revealed that he had raped a six-year-old girl and warned her not to tell her parents or teachers. The same girl was subjected to a disturbing ‘game’ where she was made to sit on Evans’ forearm for several minutes for his sexual gratification. She later described feeling embarrassed. Evans also showed her a perverted cartoon featuring a character from the Horrid Henry series engaged in sexual activity, which she found ‘weird’ and asked him to turn off.

Another young girl, also around six years old, was lured with promises of sweets and a bracelet. Evans then molested her while they were alone and forced her to pose for at least four indecent photographs, which he later shared with undercover officers, believing they were fellow paedophiles. The court heard that some of Evans’ victims’ parents were present during the proceedings, and it was disclosed that Evans had previously served an eight-year prison sentence for serious sexual offences, including rape, in 1990.

Prosecutor Tom Lord conveyed the devastating impact of Evans’ actions, stating that one of the young victims now ‘wished she was dead’ and had begun self-harming, while another had developed a fear of men. In mitigation, Evans’ defense argued that he recognized his problems and acknowledged the need for help to address his offending behavior. The defense also contended that a life sentence was unnecessary and should only be used as a last resort.

Judge Altham ordered Evans to register as a sex offender for life and noted that the defendant would likely be around 85 years old when his sentence concludes. Following the case, Detective Chief Inspector Claire McEnery, head of the Lancashire Dangerous and Sexual Offenders Unit, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “Offenders like Evans leave a trail of devastation and misery behind them, and we are delighted that the judge has recognised in his sentence the depravity of the acts he committed.”