Febuary 2009 ‘Despicable’ Blackburn child abuser walks free A ‘DESPICABLE‘ paedophile abused a young girl for over seven years, a court heard. Company director Robert Isherwood, 67, also targeted another schoolgirl over a two-year period. But despite admitting seven specimen charges of indecent assault and four of sexual assault, Isherwood, of Moorcroft, Lower Darwen, was given a ‘26 week’ jail sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 100 hours of un-paid work in the community. Speaking after the hearing the mother of one of the victims said the abuse had had a “profound effect” on the young girl and she said she was extremely upset that Isherwood had not been jailed and instead was given a very lenient sentence. She said: “He is a despicable man who has shown no remorse for what he has done. My daughter will never recover from her ordeal. I can’t stand him. “I hate him for what he did. He targeted a vulnerable girl and made her life a misery.” Amy Nicholson, prosecuting, said the abuse by Isherwood, a company director for a Manchester-based architect firm, was prolonged and had a devastating effect on the two girls lives. She said: “The attention both received was persistent and unwelcome. On occasions both said he would ask them for kisses and hold them closely without letting them go. “There was also sexual touching”. The court heard that one of the victims had contemplated suicide and it was clear the offences had had a huge impact on both. “One fell ill and missed a lot of school, she suffered sleep deprivation and a had no appetite,” said Mrs Nicholson. “The other described how it affected her schooling and her relationships with boyfriends.” The incidents came to light when the two victims came forward to police. Simon Mintz, defending, said Isherwood had been a man of previous good character who had been divorced four times. He said: “These are clearly serious offences, he has appeared to have confused the boundaries of what is appropriate behaviour”. At court Sherwood was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order, which will prevent him from associating with girls under sixteen. Judge Andrew Woolman said: “In view of your guilty plea and previous good character I will suspend the sentence. “You have sexually abused these two girls over many many years. In my view you knew exactly what you were doing. “It was wrong and you knew it. Make no mistake these two girls have been seriously affected and that is completely down to you.” Det Con Andy Bunting, speaking after the case, said: “These offences have affected both girls in a profound way. One of the girls stopped going out, her schooling suffered and she stopped eating properly. The other girl really blamed herself. She went quiet and isolated and fearful of others.”