Shotton man who sexually assaulted young boys jailed

Colin Eamens, of Nelson Street in Shotton, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence.

The 66-year-old had entered guilty pleas to seventeen offences against a total of six victims at a previous hearing.

Brian Treadwell, prosecuting, said the offending began in the 1970s when Eamens was in his twenties and ended in around 2011 when he was in his mid-fifties.

Throughout that time, Eamens targeted several young boys - grooming and carrying out sex acts on them, as well as encouraging them to undertake sex acts on him.

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Given when it was committed, one of the offences he had admitted was charged under the then-relevant act as 'buggery' - the legal equivalent of which is now rape.

Mr Treadwell read statements from several of the victims, in which they described the long-lasting impact Eamens' actions have had on their lives.

Duncan Bould, defending, said prior to his charges for these offences, his client had received no convictions at all for 50 years - and the last offence on the indictment before the court was over ten years ago.

"The frankness of Mr Eamens is another matter the court can take into account," he said.

Colin Eamens. Image: North Wales Police

"It is clear he has been very open with the author of the pre-sentence report, when one considers what is sometimes 'blanket minimisation' of offenders."

Mr Bould said Eamens is seeking to further educate himself in prison and is prepared to use his time behind bars in a rehabilitative way.

Judge Rhys Rowlands told the defendant: "There are six victims, each of whom were young when they were abused by you.

"It is testament to their courage that now, as grown men, they have come forward - and now you are to be held accountable for your behaviour.

"They had to live with what you did to them, while you moved on. Living your life, moving from one victim to another.

"They shouldn't have had a care in the world, but you were taking away their innocence."

The Judge explained that he intended to sentence on the most serious lead offence in respect of each of the victims, with sentences to run consecutively and reflecting the totality of his criminality towards each of the victims.

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The equivalent legal definitions of offences and relevant guidelines were considered where the offence charged now has a newer counterpart than those in existence when some of the crimes were committed.

Overall, Judge Rowlands jailed Eamens for 17 years - two thirds of which must be served in custody before he becomes eligible for release.

Eamens must sign on as a sex offender indefinitely, and he was made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

DI Iolo Edwards at North Wales Police, said: “This has been a protracted and extensive investigation of Eamens’ activities and we welcome today’s sentence.

“We hope that this sentence brings some closure for the victims who have supported our investigation from its outset.

“Any person affected by sexual violence can seek support anonymously from the North Wales Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0808 1563658.”

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