Locations
Hughes Street, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1
Description
A BOLTON man has been jailed for three years after he admitted sexually abusing a young girl.
Andrew Walsh, 55, who was known to his victims family, sneaked into the girls bedroom and touched her while he thought she was asleep.
Bolton Crown Court heard similar abuse occurred over a two-year period.
David Toal, prosecuting, said Walshs crimes were uncovered when his 11-year-old victim told a friend what had been happening in June 2019.
Phone messages describing the abuse were then shown to the victims mother, who confronted Walsh about the allegations, he told the court.
He said he didnt remember doing it but that he was sorry.
A day later she confronted him again and secretly recorded their conversation in which he admitted the offences and blamed them on his heavy drinking.
He also asked her not to get the police involved but Walsh, of Hughes Street, Bolton, was arrested on June 8.
The girl told police that Walsh came into her room and touched her over her pyjamas while performing a sex act on himself.
When she woke up he offered to get her some biscuits with the victim telling officers the same thing had happened every month for two years.
She also said he had taken the girls mobile phone, put it in the waistband of his shorts and asked her to grab it.
Mr Toal added that Walsh, who pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, had no previous convictions.
Michael Goldwater, defending, said Walsh had lost his job as a breakdown recovery driver after the allegations became public.
He now lived at home with his elderly parents. Mr Goldwater told the court.
Above all he is very sorry for this, added Mr Goldwater. He can barely understand it but accepts it is a result of his excessive consumption of alcohol.
The drink caused him to behave in ways that he did not otherwise imagine he was capable.
Sentencing Walsh, Judge John Edwards, said: You were drinking heavily which doubtless numbed your inhibitions to indulge yourself in this dreadful way.
It has left your victim anxious and confused at a pivotal time of her life and any child should be completely safe in their bedroom
"It should be a place of happiness.