March 2017 Dementia stricken child rapist, 84, gets community order A child rapist who abused a little girl more than 40 years ago has been given a community order on account of his dementia. William Altham, 84, was found guilty of three rapes, indecent assault and gross indecency at Preston Crown Court following a “nine year campaign” of sexual abuse”. Judge Jacqueline Beech imposed a five year sexual harm prevention order and a three year community order with probation supervision. Today an NSPCC spokesman said: “Altham led a horrifying campaign of rape and abuse against a vulnerable young girl and it’s right that he’s now being closely supervised so he is no longer a danger to children. “ The astounding bravery shown by his victim has helped bring Altham to justice and we hope this case gives hope to many other survivors of child sexual abuse that they can come forward and be listened to, no matter what the circumstances.” Jurors at Preston Crown Court took seven hours to reach their verdicts. Altham, of Bleasdale Street East, Deepdale, Preston, was not fit enough to attend the whole trial but in unusual circumstances, prosecutors were able to rely on a police interview from 2013, alongside his victim’s evidence. The victim, a Preston grandmother, previously told the Post: “People probably wonder why I didn’t tell anyone – but how do you tell anyone something like that, especially when you are scared? Is there ever the right time?” February 2017 Pensioner guilty of historic abuse of little girl A pensioner with dementia has been found guilty of a string of rapes and indecent assaults he carried out on a little girl nearly 40 years ago. Jurors at Preston Crown Court took seven hours to reach the verdicts in what prosecutors had branded a “nine year campaign of rape and sexual abuse”. Defendant William Altham was deemed not fit enough to attend the proceedings against him through his trial, but was brought into the court for the verdicts. In unusual circumstances, prosecutors were able to rely on his victim’s evidence and a police interview he gave in 2013 when he was still considered well. The pensioner, of Bleasdale Street East, Deepdale, Preston, was on crown court bail through the case. The 84-year-old was convicted of three rapes, an indecent assault and gross indecency with a child. His victim, who is now grown up and cannot be identified for legal reasons, gave harrowing and graphic evidence of the abuse, which started when she was just seven. She described to the court Altham, who would abuse her in her bedroom, told her she would not be believed. In the 2013 interviews, played to jurors, Altham had initially denied abuse but later confirmed he used to “play a game” called Tommy Tickle Toe with her. Judge Jacqueline Beech, who presided over the case, directed that Altham’s sentencing would take place on March 3. She indicated she would accept a 10-2 majority guilty verdict. The case will almost certainly give hope to hundreds of victims of historic abuse in similar situations.