Man jailed for sexually assaulting child

THE victim of protracted sexual abuse spoke today of feeling lonely her whole life as her abuser used to tell her that nobody cared for her the way he did.

At Cork Circuit Criminal Court, 35-year-old Erik Richardson of no fixed address in West Cork has been jailed by Judge James McCourt for three years on six counts of sexually assaulting the child in a manner described as orchestrated, systematic and protracted.

Detective Garda Linda Lyons testified that the injured party made a complaint against the accused on June 14 2022 stating that he sexually her on six occasions when she was aged from 6 to 12 years old. He was approximately ten years older than her.

Questioned on three separate occasions the defendant admitted what he described as a lot of wrongdoing to her. 

He accepted that what he disclosed to his partner in a phone call from prison was correct. 

This conversation was recorded and became part of the case. Erik Richardson also said of the victim when interviewed by the gardaí about the allegations she had made, that “she would not lie.” Now separated from his partner and isolated from his family with the exception of his brother, Erik Richardson said he would give anything if he could turn back the clock and take the offences back.

Defence senior counsel Jane Hyland referred to the defendant’s nomadic lifestyle. His mother died in tragic accident when he was three. His father was unable to provide stability for him due to alcohol and he lived with his grandparents, Ms Hyland said. Det. Garda Lyons said the accused was previously convicted and sentenced for a sexual assault on another nine-year-old girl.

Ms Hyland said he had been subject to probation supervision and had engaged with the service.

VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT

The victim who did not want to be identified but wanted him to be named, delivered her own victim impact statement, struggling with tears as she did so.

“It has affected me in every aspect and sense of my being. I do not remember a time in my life when I felt normal. My whole life I had to lie to protect someone who did not deserve protection because I was scared. I feared what would happen, what people would say or think or if people would even believe me.

“I feel like the child inside of me is screaming for help and there was nothing I could do… It has led to me being in and out of counselling, on and off different anti-anxiety depression tablets, because I felt I could never face the demon I have been carrying around.

“I would be in my room wishing — praying to any anyone who was listening — to just let me die in my sleep because if I died in my sleep no one could blame or be angry with me for choosing death.

“I would like to say to you, Erik, why did you think it was ok to do this to me and to use me both physically and mentally? I finally got the courage to report this matter, the main reason being, I do not want to afford you the opportunity to hurt anyone else.” 

Mr Richardson trembled visibly in the dock, worsening as the sentencing progressed to the point where he was staggering around the dock area by the end of the hearing. Judge McCourt said he had to consider the harm done to the injured party. In mitigation, he said the accused was himself relatively young — 16 years-old —when this abuse started, ending when he was around 22.

“You proffered signed pleas of guilt. At the very least they saved the injured party giving her evidence in chief and then being subject to rigorous cross-examination. You suffered the ignominy and shame and are now isolated from your family.

“The nature of the offences on an escalating basis go from indecent to particularly indecent. You spared injured party having to give graphic evidence of what happened to her.

“Having a previous conviction for sexual assault aggravates matters. There was a significant age difference. One cannot underestimate the devastating and traumatic effect on the injured party. Fortunately, she is now in a loving relationship. It does not take from the very protracted nature of the abuse by you on a little girl. You do appear to appreciate the gravity of the offences, albeit late in the day.”

The judge sentenced Richardson to three years and four months with the last four months suspended while he must continue with the Safer Lives programme.

“You managed to isolate her to take advantage and perpetrated these crimes. All orchestrated by you — systematic and protracted,” he said.