Keith Hollinshead 67

Description

Paedophile Keith Hollinshead has been locked up for 10 years after sexually abusing a young boy. The 65-year-old carried out the offences more than three decades ago.

But his seedy offending only came to light when the victim went to Staffordshire Police in 2018 after confiding in his wife. The OAP was convicted of six serious child-sex offences following a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

The court heard that the abuse lasted for five years.

Read: Dad-of-three hurled fearsome knife on roof in bid to avoid arrest

Sentencing Hollinshead, of Water Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Recorder Anthony Warner said: "What started with stroking his hair, his arms and his legs moved to touching his genitals under his clothing. He described your hand 'like a crab' moving down."

The victim realised the horrors of the offending when later attending sex education lessons at school. It has left him feeling suicidal.

Recorder Warner told Hollinshead: "I cannot say that there's no risk, or future risk, of you committing another serious offence. He said nothing to anyone for many years. He finally spoke to his wife in 2018. The police were called.

"While he was giving his evidence in court the pain he had suffered, and still suffers, was palpable. Even now there's rarely a day when he doesn't think of what you did. He said he felt worthless and it became a downward spiral. He has attempted to end his life.

"It left him feeling dirty making him want to scrub his skin clean. His wife has started to enable him to feel that he should be loved."

Police have welcomed the conviction and sentence.

Detective Constable Diane Sproston said: “I want to pay tribute to the victim and the tremendous courage and bravery he has showed in bringing this case to the courts. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to bring those responsible for these heinous crimes to justice, whilst ensuring the victims are given the support they need.”