One of his victims now says that she “sees his face every time she closes her eyes”
Jamie Critchley, of Belvedere Road in Newton-le-Willows, aged 46(Image: Merseyside Police)
A mum tearfully told a judge “he’s ruined my daughter’s life” as a pervert was locked up for flashing two teenage girls in a park. Jamie Critchley exposed himself to the youngsters before encouraging them to engage in sexual activity.
One of his victims now says that she “sees his face every time she closes her eyes”. He was said to have engaged in his “dreadful behaviour” after a cocktail of alcohol and diazepam “had a disastrous effect on him”.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Monday, that Critchley, of Belvedere Road in Newton-le-Willows, approached a group of teens in a park on the evening of May 18 this year. The 46-year-old thereafter exposed himself to two girls, performed a sexual act and asked a 13-year-old complainant to engage in oral sex.
Paulinus Barnes, prosecuting, told the court: “In short, both girls describe quite a significant impact. [One of the girls] says that she used to be confident and sociable but now barely leaves the house. She does not want to be left on her own. She has not been able to go back to the park since it happened. It is affecting her sleep, lying there thinking about what he did.”
In a statement which was read out on her behalf, she added: “What he did makes me worried and angry for other girls too. What he did to me that day has ruined my life. It will never leave me.”
The second girl meanwhile said on her own statement: “Every time I close my eyes, I see his face. Because of that, I barely sleep at night. I barely leave the house now. Sometimes, I blame myself. I wonder if he did it because of what I was wearing. But then I remember, I was a child and he was the adult.”
Critchley was said to have a “significant list of previous convictions”, including receiving a suspended sentence for burglary in October 2024, although he has no prior sexual offences on his record. Gerald Baxter, defending, said on his behalf: “What he did, and what he has been convicted of, is clearly dreadful behaviour in the presence of children.
“As against that, and what the defendant is anxious that I should say to the court, is that he knows it was dreadful behaviour, and he is very sorry. He is ashamed of himself for it. He does wish me to emphasise that it is out of character for him.
“He has been in a lot of trouble in the past, but not for this sort of behaviour. He has a long history of drug use and drug addiction. He says he had been using diazepam, and that a combination of that, with alcohol, had a disastrous effect on him that day. He is very sorry for what happened, for the distress caused, but it is out of character for him.
“He cannot deny what was seen on the video. He is not asking to go behind the jury’s verdict. He has attended a number of sessions, while he has been on remand, of talking therapy, which, no doubt, is designed to make him address what happened and to avoid any such behaviour in the future.
“The address that he has is open to him. They cannot keep that address open for a long period. If he does lose that address soon, it looks like he is going to be homeless when he is released. He is trying to rehabilitate himself and address his problems, and that might give some hope for the future. It is the first time that he has been in trouble for offending of this sort.”
Critchley was found guilty of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and exposure but cleared of sexual assault by a jury following a trial. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey Berghaus tracksuit top, he was jailed for four years.
Sentencing, Judge Dennis Watson KC said: “You have a long record but it is for different offending, what would be generally described as acquisitive crime rather than for sexual offences. While I have no doubt that this was not a planned offence, the very fact it occurred on the spur of the moment itself is a very concerning aspect of the case.
“You approached this group, in particular two girls in this group, and you were persistent in your comments and behaviour towards them. You were encouraging them, at the very least, to perform oral sex and were persistent in your language to pursue that.
“Of course, the activity did not, in fact, take place. On the jury’s verdicts, no sexual touching took place. That was the allegation, but the jury did not find that aspect made out to the required standard.
“I have borne in mind the fact that, although you have a poor record, there are no sexual offences on your record. Nonetheless, these two young individuals were out, as young people should be able to do, enjoying themselves, until your conduct completely changed the course of the evening.
“The impact that the offences have had on them is marked and significant. There wasn’t just incitement. It was backed up by the fact that you had exposed your penis.”
Critcley was also handed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and restraining orders which will ban him from contacting his victims for 10 years. He will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
A woman who identified herself as one of the girls’ mums tearfully said from the public gallery at the conclusion of the hearing: “He’s ruined my daughter’s life. It’s the scars that she’s bearing daily. You don’t understand what she’s doing to herself.”
Judge Watson went on to tell the mother: “Nothing that I can do can undo what happened. It is a difficult time for you and for her.”
She then added: “I’m just glad my daughter used her head and rang the police. I think, if she hadn’t, it would have gone a lot further. But thank you.”