WILLIAM SALE SENTENCED IN BELFAST FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AND DRUG SUPPLY

A man from Belfast has been formally convicted and sentenced to serve a prison term of 14 months after being found guilty of committing two separate counts of indecent assault against a female victim. William Sale, aged 50, appeared before Belfast Crown Court at Laganside on Thursday, 20 March, where the court also imposed additional penalties and restrictions on him.

In addition to his prison sentence, Sale was handed a five-year restraining order, which prohibits him from approaching or contacting the victim or any related parties during this period. Furthermore, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, a measure designed to monitor and restrict his activities in relation to sexual offences. The court also disqualified Sale from engaging in any employment or volunteer work involving children, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the potential risk to vulnerable minors.

In a related case heard at the same court, Linda Sale, aged 52, received a 12-month prison sentence, which was suspended for three years. Her conviction stemmed from an attempt to supply a Class A controlled drug to the same victim involved in William Sale’s case.

The offences against the victim, who was between the ages of 11 and 15 at the time, have left a lasting impact. Detective Sergeant Knight commented on the case, emphasizing the importance of victim bravery: “It takes courage for victims of all crimes, but especially crimes of a sexual nature, to come forward and report to police. Now an adult, the victim in this case has been living with the trauma of what happened to her for a large part of her life. Her courage and bravery to come forward to police and then aid us in our investigation should be commended.”

He further explained the police approach to such sensitive cases: “We treat all allegations of sexual offences sensitively and with compassion and have specially trained detectives who ensure victims are listened to, safeguarded, and supported from the moment they report. You don't have to suffer in silence. I would continue to encourage anyone who has experienced any form of sexual abuse to contact police, no matter when it occurred. Call 101, or in an emergency always dial 999.”