In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Michael Collins, then 64, of Springthorpe Green, Erdington, Birmingham, was sentenced for the historical rape of a child in Northfield, West Midlands. On Tuesday, 30 April 2019, Collins appeared at Birmingham Crown Court, where he was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment. The conviction followed a report from a survivor who, after three decades, found the courage to disclose the abuse she suffered as a child.
The investigation established that thirty years prior to his conviction, Collins raped the girl twice at his home in Northfield, Birmingham, while his wife and newborn baby were asleep in a different room. To ensure her silence, he threatened the child, claiming he owned a firearm and warning her that if she spoke out, she would be taken into local authority care. The victim, now in her 40s, reported the crimes to West Midlands Police in 2017, which led to a full investigation by the Public Protection Central Complex Team.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that the survivor had spent decades struggling to cope with the “terrible suffering” inflicted by Collins. Birmingham Crown Court heard that the threats made by the defendant had been successful in silencing the victim for thirty years. Detective Constable Louise Ford noted that the time elapsed since the offences made no difference to the seriousness of the investigation, which eventually forced Collins to face the consequences of his actions in Northfield, Birmingham.
The judge noted that Collins had exploited the girl’s vulnerability and used extreme fear to prevent her from seeking help. For his actions in Northfield, he was found guilty of two counts of rape following a trial. The judge noted that a substantial sentence was required to reflect the lifelong impact on the survivor and the predatory nature of the attacks committed while his own family was nearby. The prosecution reported that the survivor’s confidence in reporting the abuse was the catalyst for finally securing justice after thirty years of silence in Erdington, Birmingham.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Michael Collins was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 17 years in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court following a jury trial and conviction on two counts.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Collins is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by West Midlands Police and the prison estate. Due to the nature of the historical rape in Northfield, Birmingham, and his long-term evasion of justice while residing in Erdington, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Collins must comply with notification requirements regarding any future residence in Springthorpe Green, Erdington, for the rest of his life. Authorities state that his life-long registration is a vital component of the public protection strategy in the Birmingham area. Any breach of his registration conditions or the terms of his licence upon release will result in immediate arrest and a return to Birmingham Crown Court.
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