David Blackburn, the Kirkby Paedophile, sexually assaulted one girl and molested another, thereafter threatening them to be silent. He mocked his victims while they pleaded for him to cease the abuse.
David Blackburn preyed upon two girls, aged nine and seven, coercing them into silence over the abuse.
He was an adolescent male when he commenced the molestation of the victims.
However, he persisted until adulthood, even after marrying and having children.
A girl was raped by David Blackburn, of Quarry Green, Northwood, Kirkby, over thirty years ago.
She wept uncontrollably and clenched her fists at his sentencing to 19 years in prison on Monday, while fans in the public gallery rejoiced and embraced her.
Merseyside Police stated that it did not capture a mugshot of David Blackburn due to his participation in a voluntary interview, resulting in the ECHO lacking a photograph of him.
We can now reveal the identity of the man who “grotesquely exploited” circumstances to utilise the girls as his “sexual playthings”.
David Blackburn was convicted following a distressing trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
He refuted any misconduct but was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child concerning his initial victim, who was between the ages of nine and thirteen.
The adult victim stated that David Blackburn sexually assaulted her, engaged in a sexual act, exposed himself, solicited her to touch him, and displayed pornographic images from a book.
Martine Snowdon, representing the prosecution, stated: “She requested that he cease his actions when he touched her, yet he merely laughed.”
David Blackburn was found guilty of 15 charges of indecent assault, two acts of indecency with a child, and one count of rape concerning his second victim.
The prosecutor stated that David Blackburn sexually molested the girl from the age of seven, including engaging in sexual acts with her.
David Blackburn compelled her to engage in a sexual act at the age of 12, subsequently lying on top of her before being interrupted and fleeing, and again raped her at the age of 14.
Ms Snowdon stated that the child claimed a rape in 1990, but then retracted her allegation due to pressure from the police.
In a victim statement, the second woman said she takes antidepressant medication and medication for anxiety.
The prosecutor said she outlined how “the abuse is on her mind all the time” and led to suicidal thoughts.
The woman has continuing nightmares and only now, after the trial ended, has been able to take up the offer of counselling.
The judge, Recorder Ian Harris, said he had read a pre-sentence report provided by the Probation Service.
He said: “It’s as one would expect given the denials in the trial. David Blackburn doesn’t express any remorse and maintains his innocence, and the author of the report assesses him as being a high risk of further sexual contact offences.”
Lee Bonner, defending, said David Blackburn suffered from depression “in part caused by his divorce”, was on antidepressants and had been referred to a “memory clinic”.
He said his client had no previous convictions and at his age, prison may “have a far greater impact upon him than may otherwise have been the case”.
Mr Bonner said David Blackburn previously made a serious attempt on his life, which left him in a coma, and his memory issues were linked to cognitive impairment.
He said he was “perhaps not a sophisticated man”, who didn’t complete his education, had difficulties reading and writing, and was “unable to sustain long-term employment”.
Mr Bonner said the last offences were 30 years ago.
He added:
“The defendant that the court will sentence today is, it would appear, a very different defendant to that young man of so many years ago.”
Recorder Harris said David Blackburn initially satisfied his “predatory lust” with the first girl, then abused the second child.
The judge said: “This paedophile offending continued after you were married and had your own children.
“Both victims said how you threatened them and that the abuse had hurt them. The second girl said she would beg you to stop what you were doing.”
Referring to the second girl, Recorder Harris said: “She would say she didn’t want to engage in sexual activity with you, but you would tell her not to tell anyone or you would hurt her.”
The judge said that girl was “forced” to retract the complaint she made about the rape in 1990.
Recorder Harris told David Blackburn:
“Both of your victims have suffered and continue to suffer to this day. You simply ruined the innocence of these two children.”
The judge said he was sure David Blackburn had known that what he was doing was “wrong”.
Recorder Harris said David Blackburn was an “offender of particular concern” and jailed him for 19 years in total, with an extended year on licence.
The effect of a combination of different types of sentences in this case means David Blackburn must serve around 11 and a half years in jail before he can apply for parole.
David Blackburn must also sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
David Blackburn’s family and friends continue to support the child molester.
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