WAYNE PICKERING SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR HORRIFIC ABUSE IN HULL
In January 2017, a deeply disturbing case emerged involving a teenage girl from Hull who endured a prolonged period of sexual abuse at the hands of Wayne Pickering, a man well-known in the local community.The young victim was subjected to repeated assaults over an 18-month span, during which she was groomed and raped multiple times, leading to devastating consequences for her mental and emotional well-being.
The court heard that the girl became pregnant as a result of the abuse.
Following her pregnancy, she chose to terminate the pregnancy, a decision that added to her emotional trauma.
Despite the severity of her experiences, she initially hesitated to report the abuse, fearing disbelief and social stigma.
It was only after a chance encounter that she punched Pickering, which resulted in a restraining order being issued against her to keep her away from him.
Remarkably, the restraining order was granted after she had already been subjected to his grooming and repeated assaults.
The court was told that Pickering had manipulated his victim over a lengthy period, and her suffering was compounded by the fact that she was left feeling 'dirty and emotionally disturbed.' Her life was described as being 'derailed' by the trauma, and she struggled with feelings of worthlessness, self-harm, and depression.
She also turned to alcohol and medication to cope with her pain, describing herself as feeling 'broken' and wishing she could erase her memories and start anew.
During the trial, Pickering was accused of raping the girl 22 times.
He denied all allegations, but the jury found him guilty of three counts of rape and one count of indecent assault.
He was acquitted of two additional counts of rape and three indecent assaults.
The court was shown evidence of his inappropriate behavior, including comments made to the victim and other girls, which he dismissed as 'banter.' The judge, Mark Bury, condemned Pickering's actions, describing the earlier contact ban as 'a grotesque subversion of reality.' In a harrowing victim statement read aloud by prosecutor Andrew Bailey, the girl expressed her ongoing suffering.
She described feeling 'dirty and emotionally disturbed nearly every day,' and recounted her feelings of worthlessness and being used and abused.
She revealed that she often put a pillow over her face during the abuse, feeling powerless to resist Pickering's larger and stronger physique.
Her statement detailed her struggles with sleep, self-harm, and substance abuse, and her deep desire to forget her ordeal.
Judge Bury addressed Pickering directly, emphasizing the severity of his crimes.
He noted that Pickering had made inappropriate comments to the girl and other young women, attempting to dismiss his behavior as harmless 'banter.' The judge stated that Pickering's sexual interest in teenage girls was evident and that his actions had caused immense pain and suffering.
He also highlighted that Pickering had failed to show remorse and had tried to brazen out the allegations, which only added to the victim's distress.
Pickering's defense attorney, Charlotte Baines, acknowledged the limited mitigation available but referenced testimonials praising Pickering's character.
Nonetheless, Judge Bury made it clear that his offending was extremely serious and had profoundly impacted the victim's life.
He expressed hope that the girl, having been believed by the jury, could now begin to move forward.
As part of his sentence, Wayne Pickering was ordered to serve 15 years in prison.
Additionally, he is required to sign the sex offenders register for life, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the court's recognition of the ongoing risk he poses to the community in Hull.
