Update: Backhouse was released from prison in November 2013
February 2013
Farmer jailed for sexual offences against a young female child
A Goole pig farmer at the centre of a wind farm development has been jailed for child sexual offences
Nigel Backhouse, 47, of Narrow farm, Swinefleet falsely implied his victim was a gold digger for raking up old allegations at a time when he could be coming into a substantial amount of money from a wind farm on his land
Backhouse thought he had got away with his offences of historic sexual abuse when he used to live in Goole. However it haunted him when the victim attacked him in the Wetherspoons pub in Goole on christmas eve in 2001. He did not recognise her, so she repeatedly punched him in the face
Backhouse could not go to the police, because he finally realized why the girl had attacked him. A confession would turn his life as a respected pig farmer upside down
Backhouse escaped justice until last year when the victim made an official complaint
The police turned up on his doorstep to investigate the allegations, finding him married with two young boys
The girl told the jury that she was sexually assaulted by Backhouse when he babysat her. She said he exposed himself to her and would watch her getting out of the bath. She said he also took her hand and placed it on his privates
The victim the court that on her 12th birthday, he said he wanted to kiss the birthday girl and climbed into her bed and molested her.
Backhouse took the stand during the trial and tried to lie his way out of a conviction. He claimed he had never been in the bedroom with the girl and that he had no sexual interest in girls under 16 years old
Crown barrister Mark Kendall said although the girl did not report the attack to police at the time, a crucial piece of evidence was from a school teacher who the girl had confessed to
He said the teachers evidence showed an independent witness at the time supported the girl who wanted to keep it confidential
Backhouse was found guilty of three counts of indecently assaulting a child aged under 16 years old after a three day trial at Hull crown court
Judge Mettyear jailed him for 18 months and ordered Backhouse to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years
