Carl Richard Bolton

A lodger who corrupted the young daughter of his landlord has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for child abuse offences committed in the York area. Carl Richard Bolton, aged 36, carried out repeated sexual attacks on the primary school pupil over a two-year period, beginning shortly after he moved into the family home.

Simon Kealey, prosecuting at York Crown Court, detailed how the abuse started with French kisses and escalated to more severe acts. Bolton indecently assaulted the girl repeatedly in her own home and on one occasion took her to a public toilet for further sexual activity. Some offences occurred when the girl was sent home from school due to illness, leaving her alone with Bolton as her parents were unavailable. On other occasions, even when others were present in the house, Bolton would signal to the girl to arrange times and places to be alone, enabling him to continue the abuse.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, described the case as 'a clear case of grooming and corruption', telling Bolton: 'You are a hypocrite. You started off with small beginnings, corrupting her to your sexual use.' The judge imposed a sentence of three years and nine months' imprisonment, along with orders for extended supervision by probation officers upon release. Bolton, of Chaucer Street off Lawrence Street in York, pleaded guilty to seven charges of indecent assault and two of gross indecency with a child. He was placed on the sex offenders' register for life and indefinitely barred from working with children.

The offences, which took place some years ago, only came to light last year when the girl, now older, confided in her mother. By then, Bolton had long since left the family home. In mitigation, Nicholas Barker noted that Bolton had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty shortly before trial, and had faced childhood problems including difficulties with reading, writing, and arithmetic. Barker stated: 'This defendant accepts the offences should not have occurred and that he is responsible for them.'

The case was heard at York Crown Court, with reporting from the York Press.