Kirklees man jailed for historic child sex offences

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A Kirklees man has been sentenced to six years for sexual offences against a child.

Jonathan Walker was jailed at Leeds Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday) for offences committed against one young girl between 2005 and 2007.

Kirklees man jailed

Walker, aged 34, of Liversedge, was found guilty following a trial at Leeds Crown Court in August.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Natalie Green, of the Kirklees District Child Safeguarding Unit, said:

“The appalling offences Walker committed against a young girl has affected her deeply, and illustrates the dreadful impact this can have on a victim.

“I would personally like to thank her for her bravery throughout this process and I hope the conclusion of this case brings her some closure on an extremely difficult time in her life.”

“I hope this sentence also provides a reminder to victims that we take all reports of sexual offences seriously and in confidence no matter when they happened. All reports will be thoroughly investigated by our specially trained officers who will also provide you with support throughout.” 

Historic Sexual Abuse – how to make a claim?

If yourself or your child has been a victim of sexual abuse, you may be entitled to claim compensation. If you are a survivor of abuse in the past, whether that be sexual abuse or physical assault, you may be entitled to claim compensation for the impact it had upon your health.

A claim can be made for the physical impact to your health but also, and often more importantly, it can also be made for any damage it may have caused to your mental health. Compensation can be claimed for personal injury and also any financial losses you may have suffered as a result of your ill health.

What compensation can I claim for?

At Oakwood Solicitors Ltd, we can help you claim compensation:

General damages – An award of money for the abuse/assaults themselves and for the pain, suffering and any psychological effects.
Special damages – An award for any specific financial losses we can prove, such as loss of earnings or the cost(s) of any treatment or counselling.
Aggravated damages – An additional award of money in certain cases where the court considers that there has been additional distress caused by the manner in which the abuse occurred.

Who can make a sexual abuse claim?

If you suffered sexual or physical abuse or assault, you may be able to claim damages in the form of monetary compensation. It does not matter if the abuse occurred many years ago.

If the person who suffered abuse is under 18, the claim can be brought by a parent or close relative.

I have reported the abuse to the police but they were unable to prosecute. Can I still claim?

The criminal process is different to the civil claims process. There are different evidential burdens in both processes, so just because the police did not take your complaint any further, it does not mean that you cannot pursue a civil claim.

The police may still have evidence that will support your civil claim, even if it was not enough for a criminal prosecution.

Why choose Oakwood Solicitors Ltd?

At Oakwood Solicitors, we have dedicated lawyers with over 20 years of experience, acting for survivors of sexual and physical abuse.

We understand how difficult it can be to bring a claim, and we are committed to dealing with your case in a sensitive way.

You will have a dedicated solicitor who will deal with your claim from start to finish, and who will be able to speak to you at times convenient to you – even if this is outside our normal office hours.

Your case handler will also continue to provide regular updates until the conclusion of your claim, ensuring the process is as stress-free and effortless as possible.

Oakwood Solicitors Ltd agrees to work on your historical abuse claim on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be expected to pay us a penny.

If you are successful in your claim, we take a percentage of the compensation meaning that the only time we will receive money is if we have brought your claim to a fruitful conclusion.