January 

Paedophile jailed for seven years

AN EVIL pervert who used a bag of toys to entice girls as young as six has been locked up for seven years.

Raymond Philliskirk tempted children in to his Sunderland home with offers of juice and the use of crayons and pens, a court heard.

After gaining their trust, the 43-year-old carried out a series of indecent acts with the youngsters.

Robin Patton, prosecuting, said the offences happened in the late 1980s but only came to light last year, after two of the victims plucked up courage to go to police.

“At the time Philliskirk lived in a cul-de-sac,” added Mr Patton. “It was the type of street where children would play out on a fine night, but it was the playing in that was to cause the problems.

“On one occasion, Philliskirk carried out a personal act in front of two little girls and on another he asked them to wash his private parts as he stood naked in the bath.

“One of the girls was told to lie on the bed and he lay behind her, simulating sexual intercourse.”

The court heard that Philliskirk later moved to a flat in Morgan Street, Southwick, which police raided last year.

“They found a large bag of toys and an extensive collection of hardcore pornography,” said Mr Patton. “Philliskirk was bailed to return to the police station, but he went on the run.

“He was traced to an address in Wales, where police found two letters he had written to friends.

“These contained phrases such as, ‘I thought I’d got away with it,’ and, ‘My past has caught up with me’.”

Philliskirk denied four charges of indecency with a child and three of indecent assault. He was convicted after a three-day trial.

Giving evidence, he admitted he liked children, but had done nothing wrong to them. He said he collected the toys for friends and the letters found in Wales referred to another incident in his past, which had nothing to do with children.

Jailing Philliskirk for seven years, Judge Gerard Harkins, sitting at Newcastle Crown Court, said: “You have expressed no remorse or regret for what you did to those two girls. I consider you a serious threat and only a custodial sentence will be justified.”

The judge also placed Philliskirk on the sex offenders’ register for life.