PAUL GRIFFITHS FROM BARROW FAILS TO CLEAR NAME IN COURT OF APPEAL

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Barrow, Paul Griffiths, aged 42, has faced a decisive rejection of his attempt to overturn his criminal convictions related to heinous acts committed against young children. Griffiths, residing on Greengate Street in Barrow, was sentenced to a lengthy 20-year imprisonment in November 2009 after a jury at Preston Crown Court found him guilty of multiple serious offenses.

These convictions included four counts of indecent assault, along with two other grave sex offenses and acts of child cruelty. The severity of the crimes and the nature of the evidence presented at trial underscored the gravity of the case, which has left a lasting impact on the victims and the local community alike.

Following his conviction, Griffiths sought to challenge the verdicts by appealing to the Criminal Appeal Court in London. His primary argument centered around claims that errors during his trial rendered the convictions unsafe. He alleged procedural mistakes, particularly in how the trial judge summarized the case for the jury and in the manner in which he was charged.

However, the Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice Nichol, Lord Justice Thomas, and Mr Justice Wilkie, dismissed Griffiths’ appeal on Friday. They refused to grant him permission for a full appeal hearing, stating that there was no reason to doubt the safety of the original convictions. The judges emphasized that the evidence and the trial process had been sound, and that the convictions were justified based on the facts presented.

Additionally, Griffiths attempted to challenge his sentence, arguing that it was excessive. The court, however, upheld the original 20-year term, ruling that it was appropriate given the seriousness of the offenses.

During the hearing, Mr Justice Nichol recounted the disturbing details of the case, revealing that Griffiths, along with another man, Paul Martindale, committed these acts of depravity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The judge described Griffiths’ conduct as “sickening acts of depravity and cruelty” directed at a boy and a girl, both under the age of 13 at the time of the abuse.

Both Griffiths and Martindale denied the allegations, but the jury convicted them after a thorough trial. Martindale, aged 41 and residing on Ramsgate Crescent in Barrow, was sentenced to 15 years after being found guilty of rape, four counts of indecent assault, and gross indecency with a child.

Griffiths’ legal team also presented a letter from the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), an independent body responsible for reviewing potential miscarriages of justice. The letter indicated that Griffiths’ case had initially presented “substantial issues,” but the CCRC later closed his file after he announced his intention to challenge the convictions.

In conclusion, Mr Justice Nicol reaffirmed the court’s decision, stating that Griffiths’ appeal was without merit and that the convictions and sentence would stand. The case remains a stark reminder of the serious crimes committed and the justice served in the face of such depravity, leaving the community of Barrow to grapple with the aftermath of these disturbing events.