Mums of children abused by Almondbury ‘monster’ John Catterson speak out: The story every parent should read

Mar 19 2010 by Katie Grant, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

John Catterson

ANGRY Huddersfield mums say they will stand outside 10 Downing Street in a bid to get tougher sentences for sex offenders.

They made their pledge to amend legislation after it protected an evil paedophile who preyed on their daughters.

The Almondbury parents have spoken out after child sex offender John Catterson was given only 32 months in prison for sexually abusing their girls.

When sentencing Catterson at Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall blamed Parliament for the fact he couldn’t impose a longer sentence on Catterson, who he described as “an untreatable sexual predator”.

Mum A, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “He’s taken part of my daughter’s childhood away which she’ll never get back.

“Who cares about his human rights?

“My child had her human rights taken away from her when he started messing about with her.”

“I want to get a petition going and I’m going to take it straight to Gordon Brown.

“I’ll stand outside number 10 all day if I have to.

“The sentence should be based on the severity of the crime – there shouldn’t be guidelines restricting the judges from giving suitable sentences.

“What’s the point in having a judge in crown court if they’re being told by the government exactly how to sentence people?

“There might as well not even be a judge in that case.”

Judge Durham Hall told the court Catterson, 57, of Westgate, Almondbury, was a serious danger to children and should get an indeterminate sentence.

The threshold for indeterminate sentences is four years and the two offences that Catterson committed do not carry such a tally in the sentencing guidelines for judges.

Catterson admitted one offence of sexual assault on a girl under 13 and one offence of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Mum A continued: “Catterson himself even told police he’s a danger to children and that he’s been a sexual predator since he was 22.

“He’s an untreatable sex offender and there’s a good chance he’s going to do it again when he gets out, which is only going to be about 12 months.

“He should have got at least five years for what he did.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous, I am so angry.

“I won’t be able to rest knowing he could do this to another child when he gets out.”