TOBIAS NEILSON FROM CLITHEROE SENTENCED FOR CHILD RAPE AND ABUSE IN PRESTON

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Clitheroe, Tobias Neilson, aged 38, has been sentenced to over ten years in prison for a series of heinous child sexual abuse offences. The crimes, which spanned several years and involved three young girls, were detailed in Preston Crown Court, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that began when Neilson was just a teenager.

Neilson, a resident of Salthill Drive in Clitheroe, was accused of grooming and abusing three girls, one of whom was only five years old when his abuse started. The court heard that Neilson, who has a known interest in comic-con events and is from a strict Jehovah’s Witness family, met his victims through community events and celebrations. His actions included kissing, groping, and touching his victims inappropriately, with some incidents involving forceful acts such as forcing his tongue into their mouths and making them sit on top of him. The court was also told that Neilson made one of the girls perform oral sex on him in public toilets around Clitheroe.

Judge Beverley Lunt summarized the severity of Neilson’s offending, stating, “Your offending began when you were only 13 and then it carried on through your teenage years and into adulthood. With your first victim, you have admitted inappropriately kissing her and touching her naked vagina underneath her clothing with your hand on multiple occasions and indeed in multiple locations. You told her she was not to tell anybody, and if she did, that her parents would be angry with her. That is a wicked thing to say to a child.”

She further explained that Neilson’s abuse extended to the younger sister of his first victim, with the misconduct continuing until he was 20 years old. The victims ranged in age from five to eleven at the time of the abuse, and the court heard their statements, which clearly illustrated the profound harm caused by Neilson’s actions.

Of particular concern was the abuse of the third victim, who was between six and eleven years old. Neilson’s misconduct towards her was described as far more serious, involving oral rape and coercing her to masturbate him on multiple occasions over the years. Neilson also bribed her with promises of money and special games to facilitate his abuse. The court noted that none of the girls had reported the abuse at the time, possibly believing they had gotten away with it.

The case took a further disturbing turn in 2014 when Neilson was caught attempting to meet a girl over the internet, having sent indecent images and requesting photos of what he believed to be a child, but was in fact an undercover police officer. Although he was arrested and initially released under investigation, his criminal activities persisted. In 2020, Neilson was again found communicating with real girls online, engaging in sexualized conversations and sending indecent pictures.

The authorities became aware of Neilson’s latest offending after one of his victim’s mothers discovered messages from her 13-year-old daughter to Neilson, which included plans to meet for sexual intercourse. This evidence led to his arrest and subsequent conviction.

Neilson pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including rape of a child, sexual and indecent assault of a child, attempting to induce a child to view indecent images, and communicating with a child under 16 in a sexual manner. His guilty pleas earned him full credit in sentencing.

Judge Beverley Lunt sentenced Neilson to 10 years and 10 months in prison. She emphasized that Neilson showed no remorse or acknowledgment of his actions, stating, “You are not a man who comes before the court saying yes, I was young and immature, and that you had tragedy in your own life. You have not lost your interest in young girls, it is still there.”

Concluding her remarks, Judge Lunt expressed hope that the victims would find some measure of peace and be able to move forward with their lives, despite the irreversible damage caused by Neilson’s predatory behavior.