September 2020

Paedophile raped girl and ‘robbed her of her childhood’

A paedophile who raped a pre-teen girl – and ‘robbed her of her childhood’ – has been jailed.

Anthony Churton left his victim so traumatised she has started pulling her hair out and repeatedly banging her head against walls.

She told her family she ‘doesn’t want to be here anymore’ and has expressed suicidal thoughts.

The girl, who is under 13, has been referred for mental health counselling following her horrific ordeal.

Bolton Crown Court heard Churton, 35, from Leigh, was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the offences.

In a statement read to the court, the girl’s family said she refuses to leave her home – even to attend school. 

Her loves ones say they have been left ‘utterly devastated’. 

“She not slept for months,” the statement read.

“Around three weeks after the incident, she [said] she did not want to be here anymore. We were watching a programme and someone committed suicide. She asked how she could do it. 

“She has started banging her head against the wall and pulling her hair out because of what he has done to her.

“She refuses to leave the house. She won’t even go to the toilet on her own.

“She has been robbed of her childhood.” 

Judge Graeme Smith described the emotional trauma inflicted on the child as ‘both tragic and severe’. 

“She has self-harmed, she has been for mental health counselling and has mentioned suicide,” he said.

“For the to happen at such a young age is both tragic and severe. 

“Taking alcohol and drugs is not an excuse for such outrageous conduct.” 

Anthony Churton pleaded guilty to two counts of raping a child under the age of 13.

He was jailed for nine years – and made the subject of a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order.

July 2020

Paedophile admits raping child

A paedophile is to be sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of raping a child under the age of 13

Anthony Churton, 35, pleaded guilty to the offences in a plea hearing at Bolton Crown Court.

Both charges date back to November of last year and relate to the same child.

Churton, of Oxford Street, Leigh, appeared in court via video link from HMP Forest Bank.

Judge Graeme Smith adjourned the case until September 2 to allow a pre-sentencing report and a psychiatric report to be compiled.

Judge Smith told the court that Churton had a “relatively limited antecedent history” and that an hour would need to be set aside for the sentencing hearing.

Addressing Churton, Judge Smith added: “You have pleaded guilty, that is something that will be reflected and you will be given appropriate credit when we get to the point of sentence

“These are very serious offences and inevitably there will be a lengthy custodial sentence.

“As you have been convicted of sentences of a sexual nature, you must keep police informed at all times of your personal particulars.”