In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Colin Haworth, then 71, of Burnley, Lancashire, was sentenced to 23 years in prison. On 10 June 2019, Haworth appeared at Burnley Crown Court for a 35-year campaign of “predatory” sexual violence against eight children across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The investigation established that Haworth’s crimes occurred between 1977 and 2014 in locations including Burnley, Drummore in Wigtownshire, and Llandudno in Conwy. The prosecution reported that the abuse involved some children as young as three or four. Haworth used grooming tactics to normalise his behaviour, such as referring to sexual acts as a ‘spitting game’. The case came to light in 2017 when a survivor contacted police, leading to a host of other victims coming forward to report rape, attempted rape, and indecent assault.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Judge Jonathan Gibson emphasised that Haworth was a “dangerous offender” whose conduct was manipulative and highly damaging. The court reported that at the time of sentencing, Haworth was already serving a seven-year term in Stafford Prison for similar offences committed against two other victims. The prosecution emphasised that the survivors’ victim personal statements detailed how the abuse had affected their adult lives and their relationships with their own children.
The judge emphasised that the offending lasted for most of Haworth’s adult life and that there was no mitigation that could detract from the gravity of the 33 sexual offences. The court heard that Haworth had systematically exploited the trust of families to gain access to his victims. For his crimes in Lancashire, Galloway, and North Wales, the court determined that an extended sentence was necessary to reflect the scale of the trauma inflicted.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes across the UK, Colin Haworth was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 23 years in immediate custody.
- Extended Licence: An additional one-year licence period upon release.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Convictions: Admitted 33 sexual offences, including rape, attempted rape, and indecent assault against eight children.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Haworth is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Lancashire Constabulary and the prison estate. Due to his history of committing offences across multiple regions and his “dangerous” status, his management remains a priority for the Public Protection Unit.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Haworth must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Burnley, Lancashire. Authorities state that his risk management remains at the highest level to ensure public safety should he ever be considered for release. Any breach of his registration conditions or his licence terms will result in his immediate return to Burnley Crown Court.
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