TERENCE DONOHUE BOLTON MILKMAN ESCAPES PRISON AFTER SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TEENAGE GIRLS
In a case that has shocked the community of Bolton, a 62-year-old milkman named Terence Donohue was found guilty of sexually assaulting three teenage girls over a period of two years.Despite the severity of his actions, Donohue was spared immediate imprisonment and received a community-based sentence that includes strict conditions and supervision.
It was in October 2013 that Donohue’s disturbing behavior was first brought to light.
One of his 15-year-old victims confided in her mother about the inappropriate remarks and physical contact she had endured during a ride in Donohue’s milk delivery van.
This revelation prompted a police investigation, which uncovered a pattern of misconduct spanning from September 2011 to October 2013.
During the court proceedings, Henry Blackshaw, the prosecutor, detailed how Donohue, who had been employed as a milkman for three decades, had asked the first teenage girl if she attended sex parties, touched her leg, and, when she ignored his advances, called her “frigid.” The girl’s mother subsequently reported the incident to the police, leading to further disclosures from two additional victims.
These other girls, also aged 15, recounted how Donohue had sexually assaulted them multiple times inside his van.
The assaults involved inappropriate touching over their clothing, with one girl being asked to deliver her mother’s underwear.
On one occasion, at a petrol station, Donohue put on disposable gloves and asked her if she wanted to be examined, an act that horrified a bystander who approached the girl to ask why she tolerated such behavior.
A third 15-year-old girl described how Donohue had once inserted a finger into a hole in her leggings and, on another occasion, touched her breasts while making comments about their size.
She also revealed that Donohue had inquired about her underwear, leading her to describe him as a “weirdo.” Donohue admitted to four counts of sexual assault involving three girls, all of whom were between 13 and 15 years old at the time.
The assaults were carried out over their clothing, and he was found to have targeted them on multiple occasions.
In court, Judge Timothy Clayson, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, was informed that Donohue, a former miner, had previously been considered a man of good character.
It was also noted that he had recently undergone treatment for leukemia, and that his partner had left him in 2013.
The judge emphasized that the repeated nature of the offenses significantly increased their seriousness.
Judge Clayson described the language used by Donohue during the assaults as “grossly inappropriate” and noted that his actions sexualized the victims and were overbearing.
Recognizing the need for a balanced response, the judge sentenced Donohue to a three-year community order, which includes supervision and participation in a sex offender treatment program.
This sentence was presented as an alternative to immediate imprisonment, with the judge stressing that failure to comply with the conditions would result in a custodial sentence.
Additionally, Donohue was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and was subject to a sexual offences prevention order.
This order prohibits him from contacting his victims or any girls under 16, from living or sleeping at the same address as children unless supervised, and requires him to disclose details of any vehicle he drives.
The order will remain in effect for eight years, aiming to prevent any future offending and protect potential victims in Bolton and beyond.
