Damon Townsend

A depraved man from Chorley with a warped sexual interest in children has been jailed for a total of 20 years following his conviction for raping and sexually assaulting young victims.

Damon Townsend, 35, targeted two vulnerable children under the age of 10. He raped his first victim when she was under 10 years old, an act that has left her scared to be around boys and men. Townsend also sexually assaulted his second victim, who was similarly under 10, and instructed her to keep the abuse a secret. These offences came to light during an investigation, revealing Townsend's manipulative nature.

While the abuse cases were under scrutiny, authorities discovered that Townsend might have pornographic images on his phone. Upon seizure and examination, the device was found to contain numerous indecent images of children and other prohibited material. Townsend pleaded guilty to possessing these indecent images but denied the charges related to the direct abuse of his victims.

The case proceeded to trial at Preston Crown Court, where Townsend was found guilty of raping a child under 13 and indecently assaulting a child under 13. Deemed a dangerous offender, he received an immediate custodial sentence of 16 years, extended by a further four years on licence. Townsend must appear before the Parole Board for assessment of his risk to the public before any potential release. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

DC Louise Dutton of South CID described Townsend as 'a manipulative individual with an abhorrent and warped sexual interest in children.' She noted that he targeted the victims due to their vulnerability and forced them to relive their ordeals by contesting the charges at trial. Dutton praised the bravery of the victims and hoped the outcome would encourage other survivors to come forward. The case was handled by Lancashire Police, with the sentencing reported in the Lancashire Evening Post on 4 October 2022.