The paedophile filmed himself sexually assaulting a girl while secretly committing an array of crimes over the course of more than a decade
Michael Hollywood(Image: Merseyside Police)
A paedophile was left in tears as one of his victims told him “you’re not a monster, you’re a coward”. Michael Hollywood recorded himself sexually assaulting a teenage girl while secretly committing an array of vile crimes over the course of more than decade.
His shame was only exposed when a family member found a horrifying catalogue of indecent images on his laptop as he frantically sought to regain possession of the device when the police were closing in on his offending. This also led to the discovery of a series of pictures and videos of a woman who he surreptitiously filmed in a state of undress.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Monday, that Hollywood, formerly of Bootle, was arrested in relation to an unconnected matter in January this year, but refused to hand over the password to his mobile phone. Merseyside Police thereafter appealed towards his relatives to assist their enquiries, leading to one examining an Acer laptop which he had left in their possession.
Simon Christie, prosecuting, described the 43-year-old defendant as being “fixated” on this device and making numerous unsuccessful attempts to retrieve the computer. When the family member was ultimately able to gain access to the PC, she discovered a series of appalling pictures and videos which had been stored on the hard drive.
Officers subsequently found a total of around 3,000 indecent images of children, including some which showed Hollywood, most recently of Southfield Drive in Westhoughton, near Bolton, sexually assaulting a teenage girl. Others, which he had not taken, had apparently been collected between November 2003 and October 2023.
Other files meanwhile revealed that he had secretly taken a series of pictures of sexual images of a woman without her knowledge. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, Hollywood appeared to be in floods of tears as a series of statements were read to the court by his victims.
One told him: “I can’t begin to explain the violation I feel as a result of your actions. I hope, during these proceedings, you feel just as scared and violated.
“How could I not know what was happening to me? I was naïve, like a child should be. I had no idea that evil such as you existed, because I was innocent.
“I will survive this. The panic attacks will lessen, the fear will subside, the nightmares will fade. You will fade, because you are not a monster. You are a coward. Your actions will not define me.
“You have ruined your own life and not mine, and I will not be your victim. I’m going to create a beautiful life. While you’re rotting in a cell, alone, scared and miserable, I’ll be living a life of happiness.”
Her mum meanwhile said: “I stand here today numb to the last three months. I’ve already cried every possible tear and felt every inch of pain. I will never stop imagining the horror you caused her.
“I know exactly what you are. You are a predator and a coward. I don’t hope you find peace and hope you carry what you have done for the rest of your life. You don’t deserve forgiveness.”
The other complainant added in her own statement: “I beg that he’s not given an opportunity to repeat his sickening crimes. He has shown no remorse. I hope you rot.”
Hollywood has no previous convictions. Jeremy Rawson, defending, told the court: “He is, in all other respects, a perfectly decent individual who has obtained qualifications and worked throughout his life. Regrettably, the black side of his character has come to the fore and he now has to pay the price for it.
“He has been stunned by what has happened to him. He accepts that it is his own fault. He has this black side to his character which overtook him, which he bitterly regrets.
“He is going to have a long time to reflect on what he has done. He is remorseful. He wishes that the clock could be turned back. Regrettably, it cannot be and he has to pay the penalty for it.”
Hollywood admitted sexual assault, assault by penetration, three counts of taking indecent images of a child, voyeurism, three counts of making indecent images and possession of indecent images. Wearing a grey prison issue jumper and sporting a shaved head and a beard, he showed no reaction as he was jailed for nine years.
Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: “On the face of it, you, Michael Hollywood, were living a lawful life. Later, those in your life realised that there was another side to you. You have a sexual interest in children.
“When she opened up that laptop, she was confronted by the most disturbing of images. She will never forget what she saw, something she will have to live with for the rest of her life. The sexual abuse of children has untold, devastating effects. The recording of your sexual abuse is a serious aggravating feature in your case.”
The judge added of the victim of Hollywood’s sexual assaults: “She is a bright and strong young woman who should be proud of herself. You took advantage of her in the worst possible way. I hope it is right that she will put this behind her and continue to live a positive life.
“She is an impressive, eloquent woman who has a positive future before her, unlike, as she said in that statement, you. I accept that you have shown a level of remorse. I hope it is right that you understand the effect you have had on these women.”
Hollywood will be required to serve two thirds of this term behind bars before becoming eligible for release on licence. He was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.