ROBERT BAGLEY SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN WIDNES FOR MULTIPLE INDECENT ASSAULTS AND RAPE

In December 2003, Robert Bagley, a 38-year-old resident of Foster Street in Widnes, was sentenced to a total of six years in prison after being found guilty of committing four separate indecent assaults against a female victim during the late 1980s. The victim, whose identity remains protected due to the sensitive nature of the offences, was a young girl at the time, and her name has not been disclosed in accordance with legal restrictions.

Bagley's appearance before Warrington Crown Court last Friday marked a significant moment in the ongoing pursuit of justice for victims of sexual offences. During the proceedings, Judge David Hale addressed Bagley directly, emphasizing the gravity of his past actions and the impact they had on the victim. The judge remarked, "At the age of 38, something in your past has come back to haunt you. For the last number of years since you married, you have lived a blameless life. You are the father of a family that look up to you, and your wife is devastated by what has happened."

Judge Hale further explained that the offences occurred when Bagley was a relatively young man in the late 1980s, during which time he engaged in an abusive relationship with the young girl. The judge acknowledged the serious and lasting effects these actions had on the victim, stating, "If you had been arrested at the time, the sentence would be approaching double figures." However, he also noted that Bagley's conduct since then warranted a more lenient sentence, reflecting the life he has led in recent years.

As part of his punishment, Bagley was sentenced to six years for the rape conviction. Additionally, he received a six-month sentence, to run concurrently, for three of the indecent assaults, and a four-year sentence, also concurrent, for one of the assaults. The court mandated that Bagley must sign the sex offenders register for the rest of his life, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.