A CONVICTED murderer from Old Colwyn been jailed for 10 years for child rape in the Wrexham area.
The jury at Mold Crown Court were not told about Robert John Kirkham’s murder conviction because it was considered prejudicial.
But following his conviction for rape and other sexual offences against the boy dating back to 1996 – when he was first released on licence from his murder life-sentence, the jury heard about his past.
Kirkham, aged 64, of Llys Colwyn, Old Colwyn, was convicted of murdering an old lady following trial at Chester Crown Court back in 1982.
He was said to have suffocated her while stealing from her home.
David Williams, defending, told the court that his client had served 27 years in prison.
He was released on licence in 1996 when the sexual offences occurred.
The defendant was convicted of sexual offences against another boy in 1999 and received a 12 month sentence – but had been recalled on the murder sentence licence and served a further 12 years.
He had been recalled again after his arrest for the current case last year – and Mr Williams said that bearing in mind his age, “he is not going to be released until he is well in his 70s.
Judge Niclas Parry jailed Kirkham for ten years and ordered that he register as a sex offender for life.
He denied rape and four charges of indecent assault on a male in 1996 – but was convicted by the jury.
The boy was in his early teens and vulnerable because of his age, the judge said.
There had been a significant degree of planning and he took advantage of knowing where young boys be un-supervised while fishing.
He created opportunities to be alone with the boy when the rape occurred.
The defendant increased his demands upon him and used him for his own sexual gratification.
“You quite clearly have an unhealthy interest in young boys,” the judge told him.
The defendant was on supervised license following his murder conviction and the judge said that he would therefore not make a SOPO, a sexual offences prevention order.
The offences against the boy occurred at about the same time as offences against another boy, for which he was convicted in 1999.
Kirkham received a nine year sentence for the rape – and 12 months for the indecent assaults making ten years in all.
Simon Mills, prosecuting, told the jury that the offences occurred in 1996 when the victim went fishing. Offences also took place in a shed.
Kirkham denied that the offences took place and claimed that he had never been alone with the boy.
The jury at Mold Crown Court were not told about Robert John Kirkham’s murder conviction because it was considered prejudicial.
But following his conviction for rape and other sexual offences against the boy dating back to 1996 – when he was first released on licence from his murder life-sentence, the jury heard about his past.
Kirkham, aged 64, of Llys Colwyn, Old Colwyn, was convicted of murdering an old lady following trial at Chester Crown Court back in 1982.
He was said to have suffocated her while stealing from her home.
David Williams, defending, told the court that his client had served 27 years in prison.
He was released on licence in 1996 when the sexual offences occurred.
The defendant was convicted of sexual offences against another boy in 1999 and received a 12 month sentence – but had been recalled on the murder sentence licence and served a further 12 years.
He had been recalled again after his arrest for the current case last year – and Mr Williams said that bearing in mind his age, “he is not going to be released until he is well in his 70s.
Judge Niclas Parry jailed Kirkham for ten years and ordered that he register as a sex offender for life.
He denied rape and four charges of indecent assault on a male in 1996 – but was convicted by the jury.
The boy was in his early teens and vulnerable because of his age, the judge said.
There had been a significant degree of planning and he took advantage of knowing where young boys be un-supervised while fishing.
He created opportunities to be alone with the boy when the rape occurred.
The defendant increased his demands upon him and used him for his own sexual gratification.
“You quite clearly have an unhealthy interest in young boys,” the judge told him.
The defendant was on supervised license following his murder conviction and the judge said that he would therefore not make a SOPO, a sexual offences prevention order.
The offences against the boy occurred at about the same time as offences against another boy, for which he was convicted in 1999.
Kirkham received a nine year sentence for the rape – and 12 months for the indecent assaults making ten years in all.
Simon Mills, prosecuting, told the jury that the offences occurred in 1996 when the victim went fishing. Offences also took place in a shed.
Kirkham denied that the offences took place and claimed that he had never been alone with the boy.
Published date: 10 June 2014 |
Published by: Staff reporter
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