THOMAS PITFIELD SHOCKS DAUBHILL WITH SEX CRIMES AGAINST YOUNG GIRLS IN BOLTON

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Bolton community, Thomas Pitfield, a 54-year-old bus driver from Daisy Street, Daubhill, has been convicted of heinous sexual offenses committed against two young girls during the early 1990s. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several years, involving multiple victims who were as young as four and as old as eight at the time of the abuse.

Bolton Crown Court heard harrowing details of how Pitfield engaged in acts of gross indecency, indecent assault, and buggery against the victims. One of the girls, now in her 30s, endured multiple assaults, while the other suffered a single, but equally traumatic, incident. The court was told that Pitfield exploited the innocence and vulnerability of his young victims, often employing manipulative tactics such as offering sweets and whispering threats to silence them.

Judge Timothy Stead addressed Pitfield directly, emphasizing the severity of his crimes. He stated, “Over the course of your offending, you said to your victims ‘don’t tell anyone,’ ‘it is our little secret,’ and offered to buy sweets. On one occasion, you threatened to hurt members of their family if they disclosed what had happened.” The judge highlighted the manipulative nature of Pitfield’s actions, which included one victim pretending to be asleep to avoid further abuse, and another being forced to perform sexual acts on him on multiple occasions. In one particularly disturbing incident, he incited a victim to perform a sex act, which she resisted.

Defense lawyer Gary Woodall argued that there had been no re-occurrence of such offenses by Pitfield since the initial incidents, attempting to mitigate his client’s actions. However, Judge Stead was unequivocal in his condemnation, stating, “You deny these offenses to this day. You took the opportunity when it arose and committed your offenses in a sneaky manner. Your victims were very vulnerable because of their ages.”

The court also heard how these experiences have profoundly affected the victims’ lives. One victim, who was assaulted only once, continues to struggle with future relationships, while the other suffers from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, illustrating the long-lasting impact of Pitfield’s crimes.

As a result of his conviction, Thomas Pitfield was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The sentence includes an additional year of supervised release following his incarceration. Furthermore, he was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further harm.

In a related case from October 2016, Pitfield faced similar allegations, with evidence revealing that he had raped a five-year-old girl and engaged in sexual acts with two young girls during the early 1990s. Despite denying the charges, a jury at Bolton Crown Court found him guilty after a thorough trial. Judge Timothy Stead remanded him into custody until December 12 for pre-sentence reports, warning that a lengthy prison sentence was inevitable. The court heard how Pitfield used promises of sweets to groom his victims, with one girl recalling how she told him her mother would buy her sweets to avoid further abuse. The abuse had such a profound effect that one victim now finds it unbearable to have loved ones breathe on her neck, as it triggers memories of her trauma. The court also heard that Pitfield raped one of the girls, causing her intense pain and suffering. When arrested, he denied the allegations, claiming mistaken identity and suggesting he was being scapegoated. As the jury delivered their verdicts after seven hours of deliberation, Pitfield collapsed into a chair in the dock, visibly distressed by the outcome. His crimes have left a lasting scar on the victims and the community, prompting a strong message about the importance of justice and safeguarding vulnerable children from predators like Thomas Pitfield.