ROBERT COLLIER FROM ATHERTON SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN BLACKPOOL AND BEYOND

 |  Red Rose Database

Atherton Sexual Abuser
In a significant development in a series of sexual assault cases, Robert Collier, a resident of Atherton, has been convicted and sentenced for multiple heinous crimes committed over the years. The case, which culminated in a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, has brought to light disturbing details of abuse that spanned decades and affected more than one victim.

Collier, who resides on Edale Close in Atherton, was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault. The court proceedings revealed that three of these assaults took place in a caravan located in Blackpool, where the young victim, only 11 years old at the time, was subjected to abuse by Collier. The victim’s parents initially noticed a change in her behavior but attributed it to typical teenage development. It was only during a trip to see the Blackpool illuminations that she confided in her parents about what had happened, prompting them to contact the police.

The court heard that the assault on the 11-year-old girl was particularly traumatic. Her parents described how she had become withdrawn and struggled to go out, a clear sign of the lasting impact of the abuse. The judge, Recorder Stephen Riordan, QC, sentenced Collier to seven years in prison, emphasizing the severity of his actions. The judge also noted that Collier had committed three of the assaults in the caravan, highlighting the predatory nature of his behavior.

This case also uncovered a much older victim, a woman who was molested by Collier in 1995 when she was just 15 years old. She came forward after hearing about the recent allegations involving the 11-year-old girl. The older victim, now 35, recounted her experience, revealing that Collier had pinned her against the kitchen door and assaulted her while she was babysitting at his home. She expressed feelings of guilt and regret, believing that if she had reported the abuse earlier, the subsequent assault on the younger girl might have been prevented.

In her own words, she shared, “I used to go to his house all the time and on that night I had been babysitting there. When he came home from work, he pinned me up against the kitchen door and abused me. My dad always used to say if ‘anyone ever touches you, I will kill them,’ which was one reason I was scared to tell anyone. I thought no one would believe me and I still think they wouldn’t have because we were all kids at the time. It is different now; everyone is adults.” She also expressed her concern that reporting the abuse at the time might have prevented Collier from offending again, stating, “When I heard that he had assaulted an 11-year-old, I thought maybe if I had reported it, he wouldn’t have been able to do that.”

Collier’s arrest followed police reports of three sexual assaults on an 11-year-old girl in Blackpool. The young girl’s parents initially thought her behavioral changes were typical of her age until she revealed the details of her abuse during a trip to see the Blackpool illuminations. This disclosure led to police involvement and the subsequent conviction of Collier.

The victim, now 35, expressed a mixture of relief and concern. “I feel relieved he is behind bars, but I think there are more victims out there,” she said. “And I don’t think it will just be children; I believe women may also have been affected. I wish I had come forward 20 years ago. I feel guilty about what happened to the other victim, but I also believe that if I had spoken out earlier, we could have prevented more harm. I feel like I have achieved some justice, but I know there are more victims, and I urge anyone who has been assaulted by him to come forward.”

Despite his conviction, Collier, a joiner by profession, maintains his innocence. Nevertheless, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. The case has left a lasting impact on the victims and the community, highlighting the importance of speaking out against abuse and the need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable individuals.
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