Colin Walker enacted his ‘perverted, disgusting fantasies’ as he sexually abused four young girls
Colin Walker, of Church Road in Tranmere, Wirral, aged 68(Image: Merseyside Police)
A former security guard kept his “perverted, disgusting fantasies” secret for “many, many years” until he was unmasked as a serial sexual predator. Colin Walker subjected four young girls to a catalogue of sickening abuse over the course of more than two decades.
Even after his vile crimes finally came to light, the recently retired ex-dock worker sought to lie his way out of trouble. But he will instead be spending much of his pensioner aged years behind bars after his victims’ “bravery, courage and fortitude” in coming forward painted a “compelling picture” which ensured he was brought to justice.
A trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard Walker, of Church Road in Tranmere, Wirral, targeted the four complainants when they were aged as young as five by touching them to the vagina, backside and breasts over the course of around 25 years. The 68-year-old was also said to have placed one girl’s hand on his penis, having earlier shown her pictures of naked women on his mobile phone.
Paul Becker, prosecuting, read a series of statements to the court on behalf of Walker’s victims yesterday, Monday, with the mother of one of the children who was targeted by the paedophile saying in her account: “She is still very young and doesn’t totally understand everything that’s happened. She was a confident, bubbly girl that wasn’t afraid of anything.
“I’ve noticed some changes in her. She wet the bed most nights. She had bad recurring dreams about him. She constantly apologises and blames herself, saying she was naughty and she is sorry.”
Another of the girls’ mums detailed how Walker’s crimes had had an “unfortunate and devastating impact on their lives”, adding of the moment she learned the pensioner had targeted her daughter: “Our lives changed forever in one split second. I had to watch my happy little girl change in front of my eyes. She’s now afraid to see her friends and play. She’s afraid to have fun and be the child she still should be.
“She’s now a shell of a child she used to be, and it’s devastating. I’ve had to see my daughter break down in tears on regular occasion. She’s not been coping at all. The trauma he made her suffer will never fully leave her.
“I live with the constant guilt every second of every day because of what he did to my daughter. I feel like I completely failed as a mother. I had one job, to keep her safe and happy. He snatched that away from us.”
A third complainant meanwhile said in her account: “This event will stay with me and my family for the rest of our lives. It’s taken a toll on my mental health. Things will never be the same. How can they be after the damage he’s caused?”
Walker has no previous convictions. John Rowan, defending, told the court: “There is, of course, no doubt in this case that Mr Walker, who is now 68 years of age, is going to face a lengthy term of imprisonment for that he was convicted of by the jury. He accepts that, and it is a sentence which will be difficult for him, given his age, and the court has seen his medical problems, including COPD and a heart complaint.
“While Mr Walker, it is plain, does not accept the verdicts of the jury in this case, he, no doubt, accepts that he will be sentenced in accordance with the crown’s case. Good character in these types of cases is perhaps of little value. However the court should, in my submission, take into account, to whatever extent it can, the fact that the defendant has never been involved with the court system or police before
“He was previously man of good character at 68 years of age, a man who, for many years, had held down employment, only leaving his employment two years ago having retired, spending the vast majority of his working life as a security guard and before that as dock man and warehouse manager. His age, his health problems and his first time in custody may make custody more difficult for him.”
Walker admitted two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and causing a child to engage in sexual activity, but was found guilty of a further 12 charges of sexual assault of a child under 13, four of assault by penetration and two of indecent assault by a jury. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey top and glasses, he was jailed for 10 years and handed an additional year on licence.
Sentencing, Judge Simon Medland KC said: “The evidence which the jury and I heard was compelling. The little girls who were giving evidence against you were telling the truth to the jury.
“The evidence made a compelling picture, that you, for many, many years, secretly had been living out your perverted, disgusting sexual fantasies by interfering with the girls. You did so secretly, and you did so with apparent impunity.
“You thought that, perhaps, it was your right or that they would never be believed or you thought you were just entitled to do it. You were not. These children, these women, are entitled to live their lives free from sexual interference from you or anybody else.
“The effects ring out clearly. The physical and emotional impact of your selfish, disgusting sexual behaviour is a significant aggravating feature in this case, as also is the number of victims.
“You have no previous convictions. You have a good working history. As Mr Rowan rightly concedes, that is perhaps of little value, given the scale of your criminal offending.
“It is of great regret that I gave you two opportunities during the course these proceedings before the trial began to reflect on the nature and strength of the evidence and reconsider your position. Apart from thre counts on this indictment, you refused.
“In your evidence, you told many, many lies when described how you did not do these terrible offences, and the jury were sure that you were lying, and they were sure that the victims of your offending had told the truth, and very brave they were to do that in public. I commend the courage and fortitude which each complainant has shown in coming forward and telling the truth.”
Walker will be required to serve two thirds of his sentence before being released. He was also handed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and indefinite restraining orders, while he will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.