WILLIAM CROTTY

CLAYTON-LE-MOORS MAN WHO SEXUALLY TOUCHED CHILD IS JAILED

A man named William Crotty, aged 69, has been sentenced to five years in prison for sexually touching a young girl on at least five occasions.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching during a plea and trial preparation hearing at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court in July.

The counts relate to one incident each, with a fourth count mentioning the offenses occurred "on at least two occasions" between May 2019 and August 2022.

The case revealed that the offending came to light when the victim’s family found a diary of the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, detailing some of the offenses.

Police visited Crotty at his home in July of last year and collected information from both the victim and her family.

Crotty initially denied the allegations but later admitted to his offenses during a police interview and to his wife.

During the court proceedings, Crotty expressed shock at the police visit and claimed each incident would be brief because he knew it was wrong and did not intend to cause harm.

The victim’s family described her feelings of fear, confusion, and trauma, noting she had become withdrawn and closed off.

The judge described Crotty as "calculating and predatory," emphasizing the emotional damage caused and stating, "this was your dirty secret, yet you continue unchecked, even by your own conscience." Crotty was sentenced to five years in prison, will be subject to lifelong sex offender notification requirements, and was given a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.