After two suicide attempts, a disgraced officer of the police who sexually assaulted a girl as a volunteer at a children’s home in 1970s was spared prison.
Timothy Lively, aged 62 from Bidfordon-Avon (Warwickshire), was granted’mercy by a Warwick Crown Court Judge on Monday. He had been told that his vehicle crashed into a tree, and that it has left him in a wheelchair.
Two charges of indecent attack and one gross indecency were thrown against the ex-sergeant detective constable back in May 2019.
Lively was an officer cadet in Warwickshire’s police force and volunteered at a children’s home.
Former sergeant and detective constable Timothy Lively, 62, from Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, was shown ‘mercy’ from a judge at Warwick Crown Court on Monday
Lively was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault in May 2019 and one count of gross indecency. He has also had two unsuccessful suicide attempts, which have put him in a wheelchair.
The police officer appeared at Warwick Crown Court in a wheelchair on Monday and was handed a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
Anthony Potter, the judge sentencing Anthony Potter to prison said that he wanted him out of jail after his suicide attempts.
He stated that Mr. Lively tried first to get an overdose. Then, two days later, he attempted to end his own life by driving his car fast into a tree.
He is now in a wheelchair, which has severely affected his memory and short-term thinking.
“I sentenced you for offenses you committed more than 40 years ago, and you were convicted of at least two years ago.
“Your personal circumstances were quite different.
“You were a caring person, she lived in your home. You quickly recognized that she was vulnerable.
You befriended her, won her trust and sought out to take advantage of that.
“It started when you were 16-17 years old and was in the police academy. Because she was scared, and because she saw you as an authority figure, she did it.
“You didn’t want to confess what you did, which led to a lot of painful memories being dredged up and has had an ongoing impact on your daughter.
“I just believe, in an act of mercy,” that I am able to suspend the sentence.
Rosina Cottage, QC the Prosecutor of the case said that Lively had abused the girl when she was 10-12 years old. He also volunteered in a children’s shelter during the 1970s.
Judge Potter also placed him under an 8pm-7am curfew and ordered him register as a sexual offender for ten year.
After leaving Warwickshire Police, Lively was a successful businessman.
After a fifteen-week investigation, he was found guilty on two counts of indecently attacking a young girl in late 1970s and another of gross indecency.
The nine additional charges against him pertaining to four other boys were dismissed. After Lively’s inability to stand trial, 14 additional charges were added.
Rosina Cottage QC, the prosecutor for the prosecution said Lively was a child abuser of the girl who was aged between 10 and 12. He also volunteered in a children’s shelter.
Stephen Vullo QC, who was defending the case, said that “He is in an wheelchair for life and will remain so forever. And he has suffered a brain injury for which he will never recover.
“He has already suffered a severe punishment.”