PAUL HENDERSON AND SHOCKING SEXUAL OFFENCE IN CUMBRIA
A teenage girl from Cumbria bravely recounted the profound and lasting effects of her ordeal after being subjected to grooming and unwanted sexual touching by Paul Henderson, a 55-year-old man from West Cumbria.The incident took place in Workington, and the court proceedings revealed the disturbing details of Henderson’s actions.
At Carlisle Crown Court, Henderson sat in silence as the young victim described how the assault had changed her life forever.
Her testimony was emotional and detailed, highlighting the trauma she endured.
This was a follow-up to an earlier hearing before magistrates, where Henderson, of Firth View Walk, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexually touching the girl over her clothing.
Prosecutor Paul Brookwell outlined the sequence of events leading to the offence.
According to the evidence, Henderson initially engaged in what appeared to be harmless joking with the girl.
However, the mood shifted suddenly when his facial expression changed, and he began to touch her inappropriately.
The girl, feeling uncomfortable, told the court that she believed Henderson was implying she enjoyed his actions, but she quickly ran away and reported the incident to a friend.
Shortly after, a confrontation occurred involving those who had become aware of Henderson’s behaviour.
During this confrontation, Henderson expressed remorse, saying, “I don’t know what came over me; I am so sorry.” Overcome with guilt and feeling suicidal, Henderson then drove into the Lake District.
His family reported him missing, concerned about his mental state.
Approximately twelve hours later, police located Henderson.
When questioned, he admitted to the officers that he had done something he knew was wrong, stating, “I’ve done something I should not have done.” At the police station, Henderson fully confessed to the details of the girl’s account, revealing that before the assault, he had told her he wished he was a teenager so he could spend a day with her.
The court was also shown the victim impact statement read aloud by the girl herself.
She described how the incident had caused her significant anxiety and fear, even affecting her daily life.
She explained that she now feels anxious about leaving her home and experiences physical symptoms such as nausea and shaking whenever she sees a bald white man, which she identified as a reference to Henderson.
The girl shared that her thoughts are haunted by the memory of Henderson’s face, which she described as “serious and creepy” during the offence.
She expressed that the memory often replays in her mind, especially at night, making her feel scared and tense.
Defence barrister Daniel Bramhall emphasized that Henderson had no prior criminal record and expressed deep shame and self-disgust for his actions.
He described the behaviour as completely out of character and admitted that Henderson could not explain why he committed the offence.
The lawyer also noted that Henderson had been experiencing mental health issues and that his family continued to support him, fully aware of what had happened.
Character references from Henderson’s family painted a different picture of him, emphasizing his reliability and his ongoing support for them, despite the serious nature of his crime.
Mr.
Bramhall added that Henderson had been assessed as posing a low risk of reoffending and that there was a realistic chance for rehabilitation.
He also highlighted Henderson’s fear of imprisonment.
Judge Recorder Eric Lamb addressed Henderson directly, stating, “You have been in court to hear the consequences of your selfish sexual act.” He acknowledged the vulnerability of the victim and the clear impact the offence had on her.
While the judge recognized Henderson’s remorse, he also noted the element of grooming involved in the offence.
Ultimately, Henderson was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
The court ordered that he would be required to undergo rehabilitation work with the Probation Service, which was deemed necessary to provide wider protection for society.
Additionally, Henderson will be registered as a sex offender for seven years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.
