WILLIAM D’ARCY SHOCKS HULL WITH SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN IN COURT HEARING

In March 2012, a disturbing case unfolded at Hull Crown Court involving William D’Arcy, a 76-year-old man from Gloucester Street, west Hull, who was exposed as a serial sexual predator responsible for the abuse of two young children. D’Arcy, a retired grocer known to many in the community as Mike, attempted to conceal his identity during the court proceedings by pulling his scarf over his face, a gesture reminiscent of someone trying to hide from the consequences of their actions.

Despite his efforts to remain anonymous, the court revealed the horrifying extent of his crimes. Over a period spanning the 1970s and 1980s, D’Arcy subjected his young victims to numerous indecent assaults and rapes, with some of these heinous acts occurring at his various business premises, including his butcher’s shop, Hickory Chick, located in west Hull, and his Apple fruit and vegetable shop on Hessle Road. The court heard that he would lure young girls, often in their school uniforms, into a store room where he committed these acts of sexual violence.

One of the most shocking revelations was that D’Arcy impregnated one of his victims, who was then forced to undergo an abortion. It was also disclosed that he owned and operated the Albion pub on Caroline Street in Hull, a venue where he further exploited his victims. Throughout the years, D’Arcy used money to buy the silence of his victims, threatening them with dire consequences if they ever disclosed the abuse to anyone, claiming it would result in harm to their families.

For nearly a year and a half, the victims endured a long and arduous legal process, involving two separate trials and numerous court hearings, before finally seeing D’Arcy held accountable. The case was complicated by the fact that psychiatrists deemed D’Arcy unfit to stand trial due to an age-related mental condition. Nevertheless, the Crown Prosecution Service and Humberside Police persisted, bringing the case to a special “finding of fact” hearing, where the jury was tasked with determining his guilt without his presence in court.

After three hours of deliberation, the jury unanimously found D’Arcy guilty of six counts of rape and fourteen charges of gross indecency against the children. The court heard emotional testimonies from the victims and witnesses, painting a disturbing picture of the abuse they endured at his hands. D’Arcy sobbed as the court detailed his predatory behavior, which included luring young girls into his shops and assaulting them.

During the sentencing, Judge Michael Mettyear expressed his regret that his powers were limited due to the special nature of the hearing. He explained that the only options available were a supervision order or an absolute discharge. The judge condemned D’Arcy’s actions as “absolutely appalling and disgraceful,” emphasizing that the suffering inflicted on the victims far outweighed any suffering D’Arcy might claim to have experienced himself. Despite the limited sentencing options, the judge confirmed that the victims had been vindicated by the court’s verdict.

As D’Arcy was released from court, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years and was given a two-year supervision order. The victims expressed their anguish and frustration, with one stating, “He should have been going down for 15 years for what he did for me, not walking free. He has robbed me of my childhood and my dignity. In my eyes, he is the biggest coward walking this earth. It is not fair that, even though we have been through all this heartache and pain, he is still able to walk the streets. I just wanted to stare him in the eye because he knows he has done this to me. I have not got justice, there is no justice whatsoever. He could serve 1,000 years and be stoned and it still wouldn’t be justice for what he has done.”