RAYMOND SHARRATT'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN BARNSEY AND CHORLEY LEAD TO 18-YEAR SENTENCE

In a chilling case that spanned over a decade, Raymond Sharratt, a 37-year-old man from Chorley, Lancashire, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of young girls. The disturbing revelations came to light after one of his victims, now in her twenties, recognized a storyline from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, which depicted child abuse scenarios involving Bianca Jackson’s boyfriend and her stepdaughter.

Sharratt’s criminal activities were carried out at multiple addresses across Barnsley and Chorley, where he systematically preyed on vulnerable young girls. His modus operandi involved instilling fear and silence in his victims, which allowed him to evade justice for nearly 15 years. Despite the passage of time, the truth eventually surfaced when the victim, inspired by the EastEnders storyline, decided to report her abuser to the authorities.

The grim details of the case revealed that Sharratt had pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault involving three young girls. Police investigations uncovered that his abuse of one victim, who is now in her twenties, began in 1995 when she was only seven years old. The trauma inflicted on her and the other victims was compounded by the fact that their initial allegations were dismissed or not believed by their families, allowing Sharratt to continue his predatory behavior.

In 2006, Sharratt was already known to the authorities when he was convicted and sentenced to 16 weeks in prison for indecently assaulting a minor and forcing her to watch pornography. This previous conviction was part of a broader pattern of abuse that spanned years. Despite police efforts to investigate further allegations involving the other victims, their fear and terror prevented them from cooperating with law enforcement at the time.

Today, the court’s decision to imprison Sharratt for 18 years marks a significant step in delivering justice for his victims and highlighting the importance of vigilance and reporting in cases of child abuse. His crimes, committed across Barnsley and Chorley, have left a lasting scar on the lives of those affected, and his lengthy sentence aims to serve as a warning to others who might consider such heinous acts.