Paedophile who was stabbed avoids jail
ACONVICTED paedophile awaiting sentence was stabbed in a suspected vigilante attack in Runcorn.
Colin William Holland, 43, of Baxter Close, Runcorn, was in a wheelchair when he appeared at Chester Crown Court.
The court heard he had been attacked at home over the Easter weekend by an intruder who shouted “nonce” and knifed him. Holland was back in court for sentence after being found guilty of sexual assaults against two teenage girls in the 2000s.
Paulinus Barnes, prosecuting, said one offence took place at the victim’s home after Holland had sent her a message online asking if she was home alone.
He arrived 10 minutes later and seemed ‘a bit drunk’ and pestered the girl for a kiss then kissed her, pressed himself against her and groped her.
His victim fled to another room and used her phone so she could tell him someone was on the way. Holland pulled the bra strap of another young girl in the property and left.
Mr Barnes said the other assault took place in a caravan and involved similar circumstances with a separate victim, who asked him to stop and felt ‘freaked out’ by his physical advances.
Jeremy Rawson, defending, said his client had suffered a brain injury after being beaten up in 1996 and was disabled when the assaults occurred.
He said his condition manifested in reduced memory and language difficulties. The court heard that although his past convictions included offences for ● drugs and violence, he had not committed any other sexual offences.
Mr Rawson, describing the recent incident in which he was attacked, said: “He has recently sustained a knife attack when an armed man burst into his home and called him a ‘nonce’ and stabbed him. “That’s resulted in difficulties.
“I’ve asked his prognosis as to whether he will be able to walk unaided. He’s not been told whether that will happen at all.”
Judge Nicholas Woodward sentenced Holland to 12 months in prison concurrent on both offences, suspended for two years. In addition he ordered the defendant to pay £250 to prosecution costs at a rate of £5 a week. Holland was also placed on the sex offenders’ register.
Judge Woodward said: “These offences are now quite old and there is no suggestion that there has been any repetition of this behaviour in the last 10 years.
“The assessment is that you remain low risk of reconviction.
“I’m aware you have suffered a severe brain injury a number of years ago.”
Cheshire police said no arrests have been made in connection with the stabbing.