November 2011 Ribchester man who sexually abused young girls jailed A RIBCHESTER man has today been jailed for 19 years for the sexual abuse of young girls dating back more than 30 years. Vincent Whittingham, 69, preyed on girls aged between five and 13. The court heard that after molesting the girls he told them they must keep the matter a secret. Whittingham, of Stydd Lane, denied a series of offences of rape and sexual assault, dating back to March 1980. But he was convicted of 10 rapes, six indecent assaults, three offences of sexual activity with a child, four other sexual assaults and one other charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Judge Simon Newell also ordered Whittingham to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and he will also be barred from working with children. Prosecutor Louise Whaites said that at least one of the girls was left exposed to sexually-transmitted diseases, after the defendant had unprotected sex with her.