STANLEY RICHARDSON FROM WHITTINGTON SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY SEX OFFENCES IN LICHFIELD

In March 2021, a disturbing case unfolded at Stafford Crown Court involving Stanley Richardson, a man from Whittington, who was convicted of heinous sexual crimes against a young girl. The court heard how Richardson, described as a 'predatory and practiced' paedophile, systematically abused his young victim, causing lifelong trauma.

According to court proceedings, Richardson lured his underage victim to a shed located at a residence in Whittington, a village just outside Lichfield. There, he performed a sexual act in front of her, an act that marked the beginning of a series of abuses. The court was told that later, Richardson took the girl into his bedroom where he again engaged in sexual activity with her. These acts took place in the early 2000s, and the victim, who was even younger than the previous one Richardson had abused, was left emotionally scarred.

It was only after the victim read about Richardson's past crimes in the press that she felt able to confide in her mother and report the abuse to the police. A written statement from the victim was read aloud during the sentencing, revealing the profound impact the abuse had on her. She stated, "I've been affected physically, emotionally and psychologically. I've had to endure emotional pain. What happened to me has caused me to have trust issues with people, ruined my life and taken away my childhood. I'll continue to need support for the rest of my life as this will never go away."

Richardson, aged 65, denied the charges but was ultimately convicted. The court also noted his previous conviction from 2019, where he was sentenced to nine years for similar offences committed against an earlier victim, an underage teenager in the 1980s. Richardson had helped out at Whittington Youth Club during that period, and the court heard about three separate incidents involving the young girl, who was under 13 at the time.

During the recent sentencing, Richardson's defense lawyer, Sophie Murray, highlighted that Richardson had himself been subjected to abuse during his childhood. She argued that the recent offences were less severe than his past crimes and pointed out Richardson's health issues, including a stroke in 2018, a recent fall in prison, and upcoming heart surgery. Murray also emphasized Richardson's contributions to his family and his lack of formal qualifications, noting that he had always been employed as a farm laborer.

However, the sentencing judge, Recorder Jason MacAdam, addressed Richardson via a live video link from HMP Dovegate, where he is serving his current sentence. The judge described Richardson as a 'practiced and predatory paedophile' and criticized his decision to deny guilt, stating, "Instead, you relied on the victim staying silent, as she had done all these years. But she read about your offending in the press and responded to the police's request for victims to come forward."

Judge MacAdam made it clear that Richardson would not receive any credit for guilty pleas or remorse, and he sentenced him to six years for sexual activity with a child under 13 and two years for engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13. These sentences are to run concurrently, totaling six years, but will be served consecutively to his existing nine-year sentence, adding an extra six years to his time behind bars. Additionally, Richardson has been placed on the sex offender register for life, and a sexual harm prevention order was also imposed for life.

Background information reveals that Richardson's criminal history includes a 2019 conviction for multiple sex offences involving a young girl. At that time, he was aged in his late 20s and was found guilty of one count of rape and five counts of indecent assault. The court was informed that Richardson, who resided on Chapel Lane in Whittington, had helped out at the local youth club during the early 1980s, where the offences against the young girl took place. The court's findings underscore a pattern of predatory behavior spanning decades, with Richardson's actions leaving a lasting impact on his victims and the community of Whittington and Lichfield.