A disgusting predator sexually assaulted a bed bound woman after breaking into a property as she slept.
Anthony Shackleton trespassed onto a Woodchurch property in the early hours of Wednesday, May 31, while the woman in her 80s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was asleep in her bed.
The nameless victim was woken up by the 33-year-old “standing over her” with a hoodie over his head.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how the helpless older woman told the man to get out and asked who he was.
Prosecutor Robert Dudley told the court that the sickened Shackleton screamed back at the woman that she was a “nosey b****” and a “c***” before sexually assaulting her.
Upon realising that the victim wore an incontinence pad, the depraved attacker called her a “baby”.
As if the blood-boiling assault couldn’t get worse, Shackleton put a golf ball-like object in her mouth and a flannel over her face. He also slapped her in the face, leaving a “red mark”.
The monster also stole the victim’s purse and a sentimental bracelet, given to her by her son who lost his life in tragic circumstances.
However, Shackleton’s greed was to be his undoing, as his DNA was traced on the woman’s stolen purse, as well as on a disposable vape left at the property.
In a harrowing victim impact statement provided by the woman, she said that she “does not want to see anyone” and was “scared to sleep”. She added that she still see images of Shackleton.
The Liverpool Echo reports that her daughter also provided a victim impact statement, revealing that her mum’s life had been “shattered” by the devastating assault.
On the night of the incident, doctors are said to have feared that the woman would not survive the night as she was so frail.
The daughter added that her mum has been hospitalised on numerous occasions following the ordeal, but due to her “tenacity” and “mental strength” made it through.
Mr Dudley read the statement on her behalf and in it she confronted Shackleton. She said: “You deserve to go to prison for a long time as you are clearly a danger.”
Shackleton had four previous convictions prior to the assault, all since adulthood. They include burglary and conspiracy to blackmail.
Chris Stables, defending, told the court the mitigating circumstances presented were “in no way an attempt to justify what happened”, adding that there was “scant mitigation to be found”.
He added: “No amount of punishment will be enough but the court is here to take an objective view of the offences.”
Mr Stables told the court that Shacklton had troubled childhood and was a drink and drug abuser.
He added that the “need to fund the addiction lead to the crimes”. He also told the court that Shackleton was under the influence of drink and drugs at the time of the horrific incident.
Shackleton did “possess employability skills”, Mr Stables claimed, adding that “he feels disgusted and embarrassed and regrets it bitterly.”
Shackleton previously denied sexually assaulting the victim but later pleaded guilty both to burglary and to the sexual assault of a female.
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones addressed Shackleton, of Queen’s Drive, Prenton, and said how the burglary was “despicable enough”, but the second offence of sexual assault was a “dark and deviant impulse which is difficult to believe”.
He said that the attacker poses as a “high risk of serious harm to the public”. He sentenced Shackleton to five years and 10 months in prison with an added four years to be served on licence on his release.
He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.
