WILLIAM CROSSLEY FROM KEIGHLEY AND SALTAIRE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a case that has shocked the communities of Keighley and Saltaire, William Crossley, a man with a long history of sexual offences against children, has been sentenced to four years in prison. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about Crossley's actions, which spanned several decades and involved multiple victims.

William Crossley, who is now 54 years old and residing in Morecambe, was previously known as a resident of Keighley. His criminal record includes convictions dating back to 1962, when he was first found guilty of indecent assault on a boy. Over the years, he faced various charges, including a two-year probation order in 1980 for similar offences, and a two-year prison sentence handed down at Leeds Crown Court in December 1985 for indecent assaults on an eight-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl.

The latest charges against Crossley involved nine separate offences of indecent assault committed between 1979 and 1985. These crimes involved a boy aged between eight and 14, and a girl approximately ten years old. The offences included acts of oral sex and masturbation, and only came to light after the victims reported their experiences to the police in the middle of the previous year. The details of the abuse were harrowing, with one victim describing herself as a 'nervous wreck' and estimating that there had been over 30 instances of indecency involving Crossley.

During the court hearing, prosecutor Fiona Swain outlined how Crossley had befriended the children by offering them rides in his invalid carriage and buying them sweets. He had also told the children to keep their 'secret,' which facilitated his continued abuse. One particularly disturbing incident involved Crossley taking a young boy into a toilet at Saltaire, where he had a key, and performing oral sex on him. When questioned by police, Crossley described his sexuality as 'peculiar' and admitted that it was the way he obtained his satisfaction.

Judge Scott Wolstenholme, presiding over the case, sentenced Crossley to four years in prison, emphasizing the severe emotional harm inflicted upon the victims, who are now adults. The judge stated, 'It seems to me that the persistence of these offences and the effect upon the victims means it is necessary to pass an immediate custodial sentence upon you.'

Crossley's legal representative, Richard Bennett, argued that his client’s admission of guilt was a mitigating factor, sparing the victims the trauma of reliving their experiences in court. Bennett also highlighted Crossley's physical handicap and troubled upbringing, asserting that his client had shown genuine remorse. Importantly, Bennett noted that Crossley had not committed any further sexual offences since his 1985 imprisonment.

Following his release from prison, Crossley will be required to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life, a measure designed to monitor and prevent further offences. The case underscores the ongoing concerns about safeguarding children and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in addressing such heinous crimes.