A dad-of-two and former NHS worker raped a young boy when he himself was a teenager.
Philip Boardman has worked as a healthcare assistant in hospitals, as an ambulance technician, and as a courier for a medical firm. Liverpool Crown Court today heard the married 45-year-old, who has two sons, was described as a "caring" father and husband.
But in the early 1990s, when he was aged between 14 and 17, he destroyed the life of a "terrified" young boy, living in the St Helens area. Judge David Swinnerton told Boardman: "Your wife describes you as a caring, fun loving and devoted dad and a very caring husband. Your parents-in-law speak highly of you. That happy and productive adult life hid a dark secret."
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Boardman, of Winstanley Close, Great Sankey, Warrington, denied four counts of indecent assault, meaning his victim had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence at a trial. Two of the counts would now be classed as sexual assault. They related to touching the boy's penis and making him touch his, on at least 10 occasions.
The court heard the two other counts would now be classed as rape. They related to two specific instances of the oral rape of the child. Boardman, who had no previous convictions, was found guilty of all four counts by a jury.
Geoffrey Lowe, prosecuting, today read a heartbreaking statement from the now adult victim, in which he said: "I always refer to myself as broken or not normal." The man said throughout his life he had suffered with crippling insomnia, depression and anxiety, which affected his education, work and relationships, before he told his family and eventually the police what had happened to him as a child, during a mental health breakdown.
He said: "My depression causes me to have no interest in activities and I lack any motivation to do anything on most days. My depression makes me feel hopeless and empty and angry a lot of the time. I also have a terrible self image and have no self importance.
"My panic attacks cause me to shake and become scared of people around me. These can occur at any moment I am around more than two or three people I don't know, particularly men. These have affected my life most significantly."
He said: "Insomnia has been a problem since school. I regularly go 48 hours without sleeping and keeping a sleep pattern is a constant battle. I am always tense and hyper alert at night."
Judge David Swinnerton repeated the closing paragraph of the statement when sentencing the abuser. The victim said: "What happened in my youth destroyed my mental health and my mental health has been a constant obstacle to everything else in my life.
"I have no happy time to get back to. I have no future to focus on. I have never been unafraid or felt safe. I've never been happy. I have never had a good opinion of the world or the people in it. I trust no one and never relax or let my guard down. That's what it did to me." Judge David Swinnerton told Boardman: "That is what you did to him."
Steven Swift, defending, referred the judge to a case heard at the Court of Appeal earlier this year, titled R versus Limon. He said the case of Limon involved similar offences committed by a person, when they were themselves still a child.
The court heard it set out that a judge must consider not only the maximum sentence for an offence at the time it was committed, but also the maximum sentence a child could receive for that offence at that time. Mr Swift said: "Your honour, the point that stands out from the judgement is the capability of a child."
Judge Swinnerton said at the time of the abuse, the maximum sentence for each offence of indecent assault was 10 years. However, he said the maximum sentence that a 17-year-old could have received at the time was 12 months' detention.
The judge said the case law established by Limon meant he had to take 12 months as his starting point for Boardman's sentence. However, he said there were "rare" cases where it was appropriate to go beyond the maximum that could have been imposed.
He said in his judgement, Boardman's culpability, and the "severe psychological harm" he caused his victim, would not be "adequately reflected" by a 12-month term. Judge Swinnerton said he had heard both the victim and Boardman giving evidence about the "grave offences".
He told Boardman: "You have not accepted that you have done anything wrong and have shown no remorse." Judge Swinnerton said if Boardman was an adult committing the offences now, then he would have jailed him for around 16 years.
He said: "My sentence will be far lower than that, given your age at the time and the various guidelines I have discussed." The judge jailed Boardman for four years.
He told Boardman to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Boardman cried as he was sent down.
Anyone with information or wants to report a sexual offence is asked to call 101 where you will be spoken to by specially trained officers. Or you can pass information to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Support for victims is also available through the registered charity the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre Cheshire and Merseyside, who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063 or Rape and Sexual Assault Merseyside (RASA) on 0151 558 1801. In an emergency, always call 999.
Children concerned about abuse can contact Childline 24/7 on 0800 1111. Adults concerned about the wellbeing of children can phone the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 8005000.
Anyone concerned about their own behaviour, or that of a family member, can contact stopitnow.org.uk and get-help.stopitnow.org.uk
