David Blackburn, aged 56 from Quarry Green, Northwood, Kirkby, was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of a series of grotesque sexual offences against two young girls, spanning from when he was a teenager until well into adulthood. The abuse began when the victims were just nine and seven years old respectively, and continued even after Blackburn married and had children of his own. He was jailed for 19 years following a harrowing trial where he denied all wrongdoing but was found guilty on multiple counts.
The first victim, aged between nine and 13 during the abuse, suffered five counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child. According to prosecutor Martine Snowdon, Blackburn touched her sexually, performed a sex act on her, exposed himself, asked her to touch him, and showed her sexual pictures in a book. When she pleaded with him to stop, he would simply laugh, leaving her feeling embarrassed and traumatised. The judge, Recorder Ian Harris, described how Blackburn had 'grotesquely abused' the situation to use the girl as his 'sexual plaything'.
The second victim endured even more severe abuse starting from age seven, leading to convictions on 15 counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecency with a child, and one count of rape. Blackburn touched her sexually, performed sex acts on her, forced her to perform a sex act on him at age 12, attempted to assault her further, and ultimately raped her when she was 14. She reported the rape in 1990 but retracted her complaint under pressure. In her victim statement, she revealed the ongoing impact, including constant thoughts of the abuse, suicidal ideation, nightmares, and the need for antidepressants and anxiety medication. Only after the trial did she feel able to accept counselling. Recorder Harris noted that she begged Blackburn to stop, but he threatened to hurt her if she told anyone, forcing her silence.
During sentencing on 28 March 2022, Recorder Harris highlighted Blackburn's predatory behaviour, stating he initially satisfied his 'predatory lust' with the first girl before turning to the second child. The judge emphasised that the paedophile offending persisted after Blackburn's marriage and fatherhood, ruining the innocence of both victims who continue to suffer profoundly. A pre-sentence report indicated Blackburn expressed no remorse, maintained his innocence, and posed a high risk of further sexual offences. Despite defence arguments from Lee Bonner about Blackburn's depression, lack of prior convictions, age, and cognitive issues, the court deemed him an 'offender of particular concern'. He must serve approximately 11 and a half years before parole eligibility and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
The case was reported by the Liverpool Echo, with details from court proceedings underscoring the long-term devastation caused by Blackburn's actions over more than 30 years.