A Stockport man who blamed the medication he was on for sexually abusing a child back in the 1970’s has been jailed
Paul Collier-Woods (previously known by the surname of Higginbotham) of the Stockport area, was jailed at Manchester Crown Court for ten years for multiple sex offences against a woman, which took place when she was a young child.
The court heard how 78-year-old Collier-Woods had systematically abused her throughout the 1970s and early 1980’s – which began when she was just five years of age.
Charged with nine counts of indecent assault of a child, one count of committing indecency of a child and three counts of rape, Collier-Woods pleaded to all counts, except those of rape.
He initially admitted to the abuse, but only for a period of six months – and blamed it on a medication he was taking at the time for a back injury.
His account was disputed by a Pharmacy Professional Advisor for NHS England, who could not find a link between opiates leading “to the generation of new ideation”, which, in this case, would be sexual offences.
DS Kat Moriarty is a member of Stockport’s Complex Safeguarding Team. She said “First of all, I want to thank the victim and her family, who have finally seen justice served after decades of pain and suffering they endured at the hands of Collier-Woods.
“Without their bravery and strength, he would never have been prosecuted for these abhorrent crimes. This truly appalling offending has impacted the victim throughout her life and I hope today’s sentence goes some way to helping her rebuild her life.
“GMP is committed to identifying and bringing perpetrators to court, regardless of the passage of time. If you are going to commit these crimes, then you can be sure that we will find you and deal with you.
“For those who may have been victims of these offences and don’t think they will be believed, or they think too much time has passed, then please know that we will listen to you, believe you and investigate allegations that are reported to us.
