Strongman sex fiend’s house of horrors

Child rapist selling home before he’s put behind bars

By Ciaran McGuigan
Sunday, 15 February 2009

Guinness Book of Records world record holder 'Mighty' Dave Parkinson

Guinness Book of Records world record holder 'Mighty' Dave Parkinson

This is the ‘House of Horrors’ to which evil Dave Parkinson lured young children to subject them to sickening sexual abuse.

The Bible-bashing serial sex fiend was convicted last week of a string of horrific offences against defenceless young girls.

Now the former powerlifter’s home where he carried out his campaign of vile abuse is on the market.

The pervert former circus strongman — dubbed ‘Mighty Dave’ — once featured in the Guinness Book of Records.

Now he faces a lengthy spell behind bars after being convicted of 17 serious sex offences — including rape and indecent assault.

But first he is hoping to cash in on the sale of the house in the heart of Brookeborough, near Enniskillen.

A jury heard how Parkinson would play a game with children in which he would flick money over a wall and then ask them to hunt for it. He would then lure them into the house to play the “money game” — hiding coins around the house for them to find.

He would place money in high places, such as the top of a door frame, and, when lifting the little girls to find the money, he would grope their private parts.

One of three victims — now all adults — recalled how, on one occasion, Parkinson had tricked her into the house to play the “money game” by telling her other children were already there.

When she entered his house she was alone with Parkinson who forced her to watch a pornographic video before raping her.

He also warned the girl that her family would “disappear” if they she told anyone about the attacks.

His two other victims gave similar accounts of how they were abused on various dates between April 1992 and October 1995.

Parkinson will be sentenced next month, and has been warned that he faces a lengthy jail term.

But he is still hoping to sell his house before he is jailed.

However, Parkinson’s victims should be able to sue the former strongman for any money he makes from the sale of the three-bedroom terrace house.

That follows last year’s groundbreaking ruling by the law lords that the victims of lottery rapist Iorworth Hoare should be allowed to sue him for a share of the fortune he won while behind bars.

The law lords ruled that claims for sexual assault should be brought within three years — in line with other civil claims for damages — but that courts should have the discretion to extend the period to permit older claims.

The ruling was designed to help child victims of sexual abuse whose suffering often does not come to light until many years later.

According to estate agents marketing the property, the house needs to be refurbished, but the grounds could also be developed.

The pervert strongman — who has served a jail sentence for previous sexual offences — is hoping to pull in around £130,000 from the sale.

When he is jailed next month it will complete a fall from grace for Parkinson, a former pal of World’s Strongest Man veteran Geoff Capes, who became a household figure in Ulster after performing a number of novelty lifts including holding former world champion boxer Barry McGuigan above his head with one arm.

He entered the Guinness Book of Records when he became the world beer barrel-lifting champion during the World Beer Show at Earls Court in London in 1974.

 

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