#JAILED | This is Nicholas Ackroyd. He has been sent to prison after being found guilty of committing assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.
Ackroyd, 54 years, was jailed for six years at Liverpool Crown Court. He has also been put on the Sexual Offenders Register indefinitely, and a 10-year restraining is in place prohibiting him from contacting the victim.
The court heard that the offence took place inside a flat in Wirral in June 2023 and the victim knew the Ackroyd for two years prior to the offence.
Ackroyd, of Curlender Close in #Bidston, had also absconded on the first day of the trial in April which delayed proceedings for six months.
Detective Constable Claire McDonald, who led the investigation, said 🗣️ “Ackroyd took advantage of a vulnerable female and subjected her to a degrading serious sexual assault in her own home.
“He denied the offences stating that she had instigated the sexual contact and has put his victim through the trauma of having to relive the experience by way of a trial. However a jury earlier this month convicted him after hearing the evidence. The judge also took into account him fleeing on the first day of the trial when sentencing him.
“It is due to her bravery and courage that we have reached this outcome. I hope Ackroyd now spends his time behind bars reflecting on his actions and the impact it has had on her.”
➡️ If you have been a victim of sexual assault or rape, you can access specialist support services, which are free of charge and available to anyone. You do not need a referral or to have reported an incident to Merseyside Police before you access these specialist support services.
These services can support you in a variety of ways, including offering a confidential discussion if you are thinking of making a police report, but are unsure what that involves and would like to discuss it.
You can choose to make an anonymous report through the Sexual Assault Referral Centre called Safe Place, or the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service, rather than coming directly to Merseyside Police.
With no police involvement, a specialist doctor at Safe Place can examine you to check that you are ok and look for DNA evidence, which they will store to support your case. This gives you the option of making a formal police report at a later time, if you choose to.
Support is also available in Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, from Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (RASA) Merseyside who are available on 0151 558 1801 and, in St Helens and Knowsley, by the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Cheshire and Merseyside who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063.
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