A CONVICTED paedophile who was jailed last year for raping a woman when she was a nine-year-old girl has admitted more offences after appearing in court today.
Richard Francis (38) of Willoughby Place, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, is currently serving a 14 year prison sentence following his conviction last year for rape and indecent assault of a child on various dates during 2006.
Aged 26 at the time, he first took his opportunity to sexually abuse the child during a game of hide-and-seek. The assaults later progressed to rape.
During a 10-day trial at Dungannon Crown Court in May 2018, Francis maintained his innocence, in what a judge noted was deliberate planning by separating the victim from her playmates, and taking her to a shed to carry out the abuse undisturbed.
Compelling evidence from the victim, who had to endure a harsh cross-examination, amid suggestions as a nine-year-old she had gone “willingly” with Francis, heard he struck up text contact with her some years afterwards, in which she challenged him on the abuse, asking, “Was I the only one you raped?”
His replied: “Yes, but I thought you wanted me to.”
Today Francis was back in the same court in relation to further similar offending, this time involving a male child, but occurring before the matters for which he is currently in jail.
Originally accused of 22 child sexual offences, Francis pleaded not guilty to all the offences earlier this year and the case was listed for trial.
However, he was re-arraigned and pleaded guilty to 17 counts of indecently assaulting the boy over a two year period between 1993 and 1995.
A jury was sworn in in respect of the five additional charges but a prosecution lawyer advised Francis had accepted a number of alternatives to these and she would be offering no evidence as a result.
Judge Neil Rafferty QC instructed the jury to return a verdict of “Not guilty by direction.”
Francis, was asked to stand while addressed by the judge.
He was told: “I take all into consideration including your pleas of guilt. At this stage I cannot give you any indication of how I will deal with you, except that it will be a significant custodial sentence.”
A number of reports are to be prepared and sentencing will take place next month.
