ROBERT SULLIVAN'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN WINSFORD: JUDGE DESCRIBES CASE AS WORST HE'S EVER HEARD

In a case that has shocked the community and left a lasting scar on the victims, Robert Sullivan, a 68-year-old man from Winsford, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes committed over several years. The severity and brutality of his actions prompted a veteran judge to describe this as “the worst case” he had ever encountered in his judicial career.

According to court proceedings, Sullivan’s abuse began when one of his victims was only four years old. The young girl endured unimaginable suffering, including being lashed with a dog lead when she resisted Sullivan’s advances. The court heard that Sullivan’s cruelty extended beyond mere assault; he tied one girl to a radiator in an abandoned factory before subjecting her to rape and assaulting her with a piece of wood. These acts of violence and sexual abuse were carried out in a cycle of sadistic behavior that spanned several years.

The court also revealed that Sullivan committed a particularly disturbing act on Christmas Eve, when he broke into a house in Winsford, Cheshire, smashing down a toilet door to access and rape another young girl. The details of his crimes paint a picture of a man who used his victims as “playthings,” exploiting their innocence for his own sexual gratification. The abuse, which took place between 1977 and 1984, was characterized by a pattern of violence and exploitation that left deep psychological scars.

Sullivan was finally apprehended in 2009 after a lengthy manhunt. He managed to evade capture for 22 months before being located and arrested last July. During the trial, he admitted to 25 sex charges, including nine counts of rape. The prosecutor, John Wyn Williams, emphasized the tragic impact of Sullivan’s actions, stating that “childhood memories are mostly supposed to be happy, sadly for both these victims their memories were nothing short of a nightmare.” He also noted that the victims had confided in others about the abuse back in the 1980s, but their pleas were never taken seriously at the time.

Judge Elgan Edwards did not hold back in his condemnation of Sullivan. Describing him as “foul,” the judge expressed his horror at the case, stating, “Anyone who has heard this case shudders for what you did.” He further remarked, “I have been sitting in this court for some considerable period of time, I have not heard a worse case than this. You will spend most of the rest of your life in custody but I’m sure you deserve it.” The sentencing reflects the gravity of Sullivan’s crimes and the profound impact they have had on his victims and the community of Winsford.