In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Derek Beardsley, the Cantley Paedophile Child Molester, who attempted suicide on the day his trial was set to commence, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of offences against a schoolgirl.
Derek Beardsley, then aged 81, declined to exit his cell or participate via video link during his sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday.
He had initially denied sexually assaulting a child in Rotherham and failed to attend court on Monday for his trial, after being on conditional bail.
Prosecutor Mr Richard Thyne said this was because he had “unsuccessfully tried to take his own life”.
Derek Beardsley, residing at Hunster Close, Cantley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was apprehended by police and subsequently remanded in custody, where he confessed to the offence.
He had previously confessed to five charges of sexual assault and one count of producing obscene images of a child, all involving the same victim.
Judge Wright characterised Derek Beardsley’s conduct as “disgraceful” and said that he had exhibited “no semblance of remorse” for his acts.
Derek Beardsley perpetrated his offences in Rotherham in November 2017.
In one instance, he transported his victim to a remote area and perpetrated sexual assault against her.
Subsequently, he purchased her confections before subjecting her to further abuse.
“She told him to stop, and he would say: ‘I don’t care’,” said Mr Thyne.
“She [the victim] said [when interviewed] she knew it was wrong, what he had been doing, and consequently she told her mum,” he said.
When he was arrested and interviewed by police, Derek Beardsley claimed the victim was a liar and answered no comment to all other questions.
But police discovered a video on Derek Beardsley’s mobile phone of him sexually abusing the victim, Mr Thyne said, along with DNA evidence on the girl’s underwear.
Derek Beardsley later sent a letter to the girl’s father claiming he was the victim and made accusations against her – a letter which Judge Wright described as “grotesque”.
Mr Gordon Stables, mitigating, said: “The defendant is aged 81 and may of course die in prison.”
The girl said in a victim impact statement that she felt angry about what Derek Beardsley had done to her.
Sentencing, Judge Wright said: “Over a year later, [the victim] is still able to articulate the ongoing effects of the abuse on her.
“She hears noises in the night and has bad dreams about what happened.
“She has asked her mother if they can move home, such is the effect upon her.
“There was also grooming behaviour.”
Derek Beardsley was ordered to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for life.
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