Father found guilty for abusing girl repeatedly (From The Bolton News)

Father found guilty for abusing girl repeatedly

11:33am Friday 1st March 2013 in Local

A FATHER has been unanimously convicted of abusing a child.

Nicholas West, aged 56, of Elmwood Grove in Farnworth, denied nine counts of indecent assault and five counts of gross indecency with a child.

But on the second day of deliberations the jury of eight women and four men delivered guilty verdicts on all of the charges.

The offences took place many times over a 10-year period.

The victim was said to have cut her hair as a toddler because she did not want to be a girl any more. Prosecutor Henry Blackshaw said the girl's actions were a way of showing she wanted the abuse to stop.

West, who had no previous convictions, denied any wrongdoing and claimed the allegations were "fabricated".

The jury of eight women and four men were previously directed to find West not guilty of four additional counts due to lack of evidence.

Judge Peter Davies adjourned West's sentencing until April 12.