Strongman jailed for raping girls

A County Fermanagh man has been jailed for 15 years for raping and abusing three young girls.

David Parkinson, 66, from Main Street in Brookeborough, was found guilty in February of three rapes and nine indecent assaults.

Judge Piers Grant banned the strongman, known as Big Dave, from associating with children. He will also be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

The attacks took place on the girls between 1991 and 1994.

The girls were aged between six and nine. He told one girl he would make her family disappear if she spoke out.

In sentencing Judge Grant said Parkinson had taken advantage of the children's trust with his "disgusting and depraved lust".

David Parkinson, a strongman, took advantage of children with "disgusting and depraved lust"

The Judge said throughout the time of his offending Parkinson had been "regarded as something of a celebrity and local figure" which he had used to gain the trust and respect of his victim's parents.

The Dungannon Court heard that Parkinson was unremorseful, continually denying his actions.

"These offences were not momentary lapses on your part," Judge Grant said.

"You calculated how to exercise your control over these children and the circumstances in which you would do it," he added.

As a strongman, Parkinson raised thousands of pounds for children's charities, and earned a mention in the Guinness book of records.

He would entice his victims to his Brookeborough home to play what he called "the money game".

He would flick pennies over a low wall or hide coins around his house, and then abuse the children as they searched for them.

This is the second time he has been guilty of abusing youngsters. In September 2007 he confessed to being a paedophile and was jailed for two years for indecently assaulting a girl after trying to buy her off with chocolates and money.