Padiham paedophile rapist jailed for eight years

Billy Whitehouse, 18, was just 16-years-old when he carried out the sexual offence on his first victim, while she was 14, pressuring her into having sex with him when they were both drunk.

Whitehouse, of Green Street, Padiham, then met his second victim while on a night out in Burnley in June 2021, telling her he was 21, when in reality he was 17.

Billy Whitehouse (Image: Lancs Police)

Preston Crown Court heard how he managed to gain the trust of his second victim but over the six months that followed subjected her to threats, violence and abuse, damaged her phone and her car, urinated on her, and accused her of sleeping with other men.

On one occasion he smashed her phone on the floor then stamped on her hand, breaking one of her bones.

This then culminated in an assault on December 17, 2021, when Whitehouse punched his second victim in the face, leaving her bloodied and sore, and then proceeded to rape her while she was crying and scared.

Whitehouse pleaded guilty to engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 in respect of his first victim at trial, as well as two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, controlling and coercive behaviour and threatening to disclose a film of sexual nature in respect of his second victim.

He was also found guilty at a second trial of rape and assault by penetration in respect of his second victim.

Sentencing Whitehouse to eight years behind bars, Judge Guy Mathieson said: “You have previous convictions for violence which demonstrates you have anger issues and you are unable to control your temper.

“You are immature and not ready to accept your actions. This attitude to women has been engrained for years, where this has come from is not clear, what is clear is that you treat women as objects and not as human beings."

Whitehouse was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

In an impact statement, the second victim said: “I struggle getting to sleep, and when I do sleep, I have severe nightmares.

"This impacts me at work because when I get there I am already so tired. I have been prescribed anti-depressants because of what Billy put me through.

"The effects on me are long lasting and extend far beyond the incidents themselves. I’m still dealing with the aftermath every single day.”

She added: “I hope I can start to move forward now without interruption from Billy, slowly rebuild my life and replace aspects of it which he stole from me.

“I had many aspirations for my life and still do, but this is something which people can’t see. It's pain which I will have to carry with me for the rest of my life.

“It has changed how I view myself and how I view others, and I have come out the other side a different person and a different version of myself.

"The impact this has had on me does not have an end date and is something I will live with forever, so you could say it is me who has been handed the life sentence.”

DC Matthew Bourne, from East CID, said: “Whitehouse is an individual who presents a clear danger towards women and girls by his appalling attitude towards them, and a warped sense of entitlement.

"For such a young man he has committed some extremely serious and appalling crimes, which will have a long-lasting impact on both victims.

“I welcome the sentence handed down to him and the orders handed down by the judge mean Whitehouse will continue to be monitored by the authorities once he is released from prison.

“I hope this case and it’s outcome will encourage other victims of sexual offences to come forward, knowing they will be believed, listened to and we will do everything in our power to put the perpetrator before the courts.”