RAYMOND HORROCKS SENTENCED FOR SHOCKING SCHOOLGIRL RAPE IN WIGAN

In a case that has shocked the local community, Raymond Horrocks, a 22-year-old man from Hindley, Wigan, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the brutal rape of a 12-year-old girl and the disturbing incident involving her young friend. The crime took place in July of the previous year, in a secluded field near Smallbrook Lane, Westhoughton, where Horrocks targeted the two young girls.

According to court proceedings at Bolton Crown Court, Horrocks approached the girls under the pretense of conversation, seemingly attempting to engage them before his true intentions became apparent. The prosecution revealed that Horrocks then forcibly restrained the girl, holding her down on the ground and subjecting her to a heinous sexual assault. During the assault, the victim screamed for help, prompting Horrocks to threaten her life, warning that if she continued to scream, he would kill her. This terrifying threat added to the trauma inflicted upon the young girl.

As the assault was unfolding, Horrocks shifted his focus to the other girl, who was also only 12 years old. Fortunately, both victims managed to break free from their attacker and fled the field in a desperate attempt to escape the ordeal. Their quick thinking and courage allowed them to avoid further harm, but the emotional scars of the incident remain profound.

Following the attack, Horrocks did not attempt to evade justice. Instead, he voluntarily surrendered to the police after his family recognized him from a police e-fit image circulated by authorities. Confronted by his relatives, Horrocks came forward, leading to his arrest and subsequent court appearance.

During the legal proceedings, Horrocks pleaded guilty to the charge of rape at an earlier hearing, acknowledging the severity of his actions. The court also ordered that he be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for an indefinite period, reflecting the seriousness of his crime and the potential risk he poses to the community.

Judge Gillian Ruaux addressed Horrocks directly, condemning his actions as “most heinous” and emphasizing the terrifying nature of the ordeal endured by the young victims. She highlighted the aggravating features of the case, noting the brutality and the threat to life involved. The judge stressed the importance of close monitoring and appropriate treatment upon Horrocks’s eventual release from prison, to prevent any future harm and to aid in his rehabilitation.