Search results for Cheshire

Record details

A predatory paedophile sexually abused a child he was supposed to be babysitting. Detectives described Kevin Griffiths' crimes as 'every parents' worst nightmare', as he was jailed.

Griffiths, 66, from Frodsham, Cheshire, repeatedly abused the child over a two-year period in the 1990s. He struck when he claimed to be taking the child to bed to read a story, Cheshire Police said.

Griffiths, of Ship Street, Frodsham, was found guilty following a trial at Chester Crown Court, and ordered to sign the sex offender's register for life. After the hearing, Detective Constable Beth Colbourne, who led the investigation, said: "What Griffiths did was every parents’ worst nightmare.

"He was trusted to look after the victim, but instead of caring for them he preyed on their vulnerability. He would take the victim to bed, under the pretext that he was going to read a story, but once they we’re in the bedroom he sexually abused them, causing untold harm and distress.

"It is a testament to the strength, bravery and determination of the victim in this case that we have been able bring Griffiths to justice, more than 30 years since the offences occurred. I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide them with some closure and help them with their recovery.

"Sexual assault of children causes terrible distress to all involved, not least the victim themselves, and I urge anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault – no matter how long ago the incident took place – to come forward and report it. We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated."

Record details

POLICE have released the mugshot of the Winsford man jailed after approaching underage children.

Last week, Neil Owen was jailed for 89 weeks after pleading guilty to breaching an 18-year-old court order.

The sexual offences prevention order, which was handed down by Vale Royal Magistrates Court on January 28, 2005, banned the 53-year-old from communicating with children.

But on August 24 earlier this year, Owen, of Abbotts Way, breached the order by twice approaching and communicating with a 15-year-old child.

Judge Patrick Thompson sentenced him to 18 months.

He will also serve a further 11 weeks as a result of a suspended sentence handed to him last month.

At Crewe Magistrates' Court on August 10 Owen pleaded guilty to three offences following an incident at the Red Lion pub in Wharton in July.

He was charged with assault by beating, using threatening or abusive words and breaching a community protection order.

Owen was seen acting aggressively and swearing before he assaulted another man, in turn breaching a community protection order imposed on him in January.

This order had been issued after Owen acted towards ambulance staff at Winsford Lifestyle Centre.

Taking his guilty plea into account, magistrates sentenced him to 11 weeks in jail, but suspended the term for 12 months due to his ongoing rehabilitation work with the Probation Service. 

However, by committing this latest offence, Owen will have to serve the sentence.

Record details

Jade Berry, 27, was staggering through Rivacre Valley Country Park in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, at 9pm when she accosted the child as he sat on a woodland bench talking with a friend about his forthcoming 14th birthday.

Berry sat between the two boys and began stroking the 13-year-old's genitals over his clothing before offering him sex and saying she would 'ride you till morning'

As the shocked youngster and his friend got up to leave, she pulled down her trousers and exposed herself before passing out in a drunken stupor.

The two boys took videos of Berry before getting up to leave. She was identified after leaving her bank card and phone on the bench.

When interviewed by police, Berry exclaimed: 'Oh My God, I do not recall anything' - but was later picked out by the boy at an identity parade.

The 13-year-old, who has ADHD, said he was so traumatised by the encounter that he tried to take his own life.

At Chester Crown Court, Berry - who lives in the village of Little Sutton near Ellesmere Port - pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was sentenced to 12 months in jail suspended for 18 months. 

Berry was also ordered to wear an electronic 'sobriety' tag for 120 days as part of an alcohol abstinence monitoring programme and will have to complete 35 rehabilitation activity days. 

She was told to sign on the Sex Offenders' Register for ten years.

Berry had told the court she had mental health issues. 

The incident occurred on October 3 last year after Berry was making her way through the 300-acre nature reserve after a drinking session with friends. 

James Coutts, prosecuting, said: 'The victim was seated on a bench in woodland when the defendant approached him. 

'She was unknown to him and was clearly intoxicated. She sat between the two boys and began to touch and rub his genitals and the upper area of his thigh over his clothing whilst making highly inappropriate and sexualised comments. 

'She said she was going to "ride him till morning".

'They had in fact been talking previously about his upcoming 14th birthday - and it was quite clear to them she knew how old he was.

'The boys almost immediately left, leaving her on the bench. She removed her clothing and exposed her genitals and buttocks before passing out. They did take a video of the scene.

'The victim went home and told his mother who contacted the police. The officers attended the scene and found her bank card and her phone.

'By the time the officers arrived she had left the area. But she was arrested on October 5. Her response to being arrested was, "Oh My God, I do not recall anything".

'She was asked questions in an interview. She answered "No comment" to all questions. An identity parade was arranged in which the victim was involved. He successfully identified the defendant as the one involved in the incident.'

Mr Coutts described the impact of the incident on the teenage victim.  

'The victim described feeling low after the assault and described an occasion where he tried to take his own life. He had night terrors about the incident afterwards and nightmares. 

'He described taking medication and does not feel able to return to the park. He does not leave the house much. He is feeling scared, anxious, and generally feeling unsafe.

'He has received counselling from two separate sources to aid his recovery but he has lost the confidence that he had. Clearly there are aggravating factors to this offence. 

'There was the presence of alcohol and the inebriation of the defendant and the victim was particularly vulnerable due to his age and difficulties.'

Berry had one previous conviction for drink driving from 2021.

Her counsel John Wyn Williams said: 'She has sadly suffered from mental health problems since the age of 15 or 16 and Covid was a particularly difficult time for her. 

'She has a self-destructive nature and because of this nature she has turned to alcohol to deal with his issues but she now realises that is not the answer to her problems.

'The separation of her parents is another factor that has caused her mental anguish. Her memory of this unfortunate incident is fairly scant but she did not want that young boy to have to give evidence in a trial. 

'Her psychiatrist identifies anxiety disorder, panic attacks [and] borderline personality disorder, as mental health issues - and because of those problems she has been drinking too much.

'It seems that her alcohol intoxication may have led her into doing and committing this offence. There is genuine heartfelt remorse and she shows the victim empathy.

Sentencing, judge Eric Lamb said: 'As it was a chance meeting, you were not aware of the vulnerability of your victim but the consequence of what you did have been awful for the complainant and his family. 

'He has tried to take his own life, suffered night terrors, and required counselling in an effort to overcome the impact of that which you have done.

'You have no recollection of what you did as a result of the amount of alcohol that you had taken but the commission of an offence, when drinking, is an aggravating feature.

'The reasons for your taking alcohol are many and complex and although I must have regard to whether or not you present a risk of serious harm to members of the public by the commission of further specific offences, in your case the conclusion is that such a risk is low. I accept that there is genuine and heartfelt remorse.

'On the one hand, this is a sexual assault on a young person by someone who is 27 years of age and it is plainly a serious matter. 

'But on the other side there is strong personal mitigation as a result of genuine remorse, and the series of events that have led you to your mental health difficulties. You now realise that you must alter your ways.'

Record details

AN offender who was previously branded an ‘animal’ by a judge has been put behind bars once more.

Connor Standish was locked up for seven-and-a-half years in December 2016 after embarking on a one-man crime spree.

These offences included an armed robbery, biting police officers and threatening a teenage girl with a knife after she refused to perform a sex act on him.

He was also caught carrying an imitation firearm on one occasion.

Sentencing at Chester Crown Court three-and-a-half years ago, judge Neil Flewitt said: “That is the behaviour of an animal.”

The 27-year-old has now been jailed again for assaults which saw him bite and spit at people during the Covid pandemic.

Warrington Magistrates’ Court this month heard how Standish assaulted two men on June 15 and 19, 2020.

Also on June 15, 2020, he threatened a woman that he would arrange to get her house burnt down, intending that she would fear that the threat would be carried out.

He was later charged with two counts of assault by beating and one of threatening to destroy property.

All of the offences occurred in the Widnes areas, with court documents listing the defendant’s current address as HMP Oakwood in Featherstone, West Yorkshire.

Magistrates took his guilty pleas into account but determined that only immediate custody was appropriate due to the biting and spitting occurring during the pandemic.

Standish, formerly of Davenport Row in Runcorn, was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment.

He was also ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £128, however no compensation was ordered due to him serving a prison sentence to 2025, with no means to pay.

Record details

A PREDATOR who preyed on a child by engaging in sexual activity with him has been put behind bars.

Finlay Stewart committed a series of child sex offences against the youngster, knowing that the victim was not aged 16 or over.

The now 23-year-old defendant was brought before Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, August 8, to be sentenced over eight sexual offences involving a minor.

He was handed an inevitable immediate prison sentence and ordered to sign the sex offender register for life.

Oliver King, prosecuting the case, told the court how Stewart was to be sentenced for carrying out five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

He also admitted his role in sole counts of sexual communications with a child, possessing indecent images of children and possessing prohibited images of children.

The court heard how the defendant, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, intentionally communicated in a sexual manner with a boy under the age of 16.

Through their sexual conversations, Stewart asked the victim to supply an indecent image of himself, before these discussions led to physical sexual activity.

Police found six indecent images of children of the defendant’s devices, along with four prohibited images of children.

The latter are described as being ‘grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character’, such as concentrating on the genitalia of a child or show a sexual act involving a child.

Prohibited images cannot be photographs or photos which have been photoshopped. They are therefore sketches, paintings, cartoons or any other unreal ‘depiction’ of a person.

Stewart, of Cherry Tree Avenue in Lymm, entered guilty pleas to all charges and was sentenced by recorder Eric Lamb to three years in prison.

He was also made the subject of sex offender registration and notification requirements with the police and a sexual harm prevention order – both for an indefinite period.

In addition, the court approved an order to deprive the defendant of the devices seized by police and a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting or approaching the victim, again indefinitely.

Record details

A "twisted" paedophile who posed as a model scout to lure child victims has admitted 88 sex offences.

David Harmes, 27, pleaded guilty to crimes involving 39 victims in the UK and six in the USA over a six-month period between July 2019 and February 2020.

He was remanded in custody at Chester Crown Court on Monday ahead of his sentencing on September 5.

Cheshire Constabulary said Harmes kept his real identity hidden, adding: "All this deceit and manipulation was to fuel his twisted obsession".

He targeted youngsters aged between six and 15, all of whom except one were female, drawing them in after spotting them on YouTube or Instagram.

Harmes, from, Winsford, Cheshire, used a number of disguises, including posing as a model scout, "Jess", and claiming to be working for major clothing outlets.

He had finished serving a sentence for similar offences around five months before he began committing more crimes.

Detective Sergeant Mark Naylor said: "Having received intelligence that Harmes was offending, his laptops, phones and other digital devices were seized in a warrant at his address, and Harmes was returned to prison for breaching his Sex Offender Notification Order on 8 February 2020 preventing him from committing further crimes."

He was linked to the crimes by his distinctive bedding, seen in images found on his devices, and footage of him accidentally opening his laptop and filming his face for just a few seconds.

The charges included possessing, making and distributing indecent images, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Detective Superintendent Simon Draco said: "This has been a complex and meticulous investigation with international based victims that has resulted in the conviction of Harmes and will bring justice for the victims of his offending."

"Cheshire Constabulary has an investigation team dedicated to targeting those who sexually abuse and offend against children online and teams across the force work with partners to educate children, parents and carers about online predators, to safeguard children from potential harm.

"We're really keen to drum home the message that parents and carers need to know what their children are doing online in order to protect them from predators like Harmes.

"We all know that we need to teach children not to speak to strangers in the street, but we need to drive home that very same message for the online world too, to prevent people like Harmes taking advantage."

Record details

AN Ellesmere Port child rapist who took indecent pictures of his victim and also continued to be an online predator while on police bail has received an extended prison sentence.

Derek Smith appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday, June 23, where he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, plus five years extended licence.

The 42-year-old was earlier found guilty of 24 counts, including the possession and taking of indecent images of children, engaging in sexual communication with a child, inciting a child aged 13 to 17 to engage in sexual activity and multiple counts of rape.

The investigation initially began following a report from the National Crime Agency (NCA) which made Cheshire Police aware that a 'category C' indecent image of a child had been uploaded to the internet.

Detectives were able to successfully identify the address of the user who had uploaded the image and on Tuesday, July 27 last year, Smith was arrested, and searches were conducted at two addresses linked to him in Chester and Ellesmere Port.

Officers recovered numerous electronic devices during the warrants, two of which were later found to contain 231 indecent images and videos of children.

Of the images found, 43 were of category A, 74 were of category B, and 114 were of category C.

Cheshire Constabulary’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) discovered that 26 of the images recovered were first generation images of a young girl, taken by Smith on his own device.

On Friday, September 9, Smith was charged with nine offences and was released on conditional bail for the case to be heard at court. However, he was not deterred by this and continued his predatory online activity.

Smith, who went by the name 'Degsi' on a dating app, engaged in several sexualised conversations with three young girls, aged 13 and 14. He requested inappropriate images of them and encouraged them to commit sexual acts upon themselves.

However, unbeknown to Smith, he was speaking to three adults acting as child ‘decoys’.

In a bid to identify Smith, the decoys arranged a meeting on Wednesday, October 5, using a decoy profile of an adult woman.

Smith was waiting at Cheshire Oaks when he was confronted by the decoys and swiftly arrested by officers.

During questioning, he answered no comment to everything posed to him by officers, even when shown messages that he had sent to the three different decoys.

A further seven sexual charges were secured against Smith, and he was remanded into custody.

As detectives were working to bring the extent of his crimes to light, the victim pictured in the indecent images (recovered from Smith’s devices), felt able to disclose her abuse at the hands of Smith.

While he was still on remand, Smith was arrested again and subsequently charged with eight more offences, including multiple counts of rape and sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 17.

Smith pleaded not guilty to all offences. However, after listening to the extensive evidence gathered against him, a jury found him guilty on all charges on Wednesday, May 17 this year.

Detective Constables Louise Murphy and Abi Axon, from Cheshire Constabulary’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, attended Smith’s sentencing and said: “The long list of offences Smith subjected the victim to is nothing short of horrific.

“He has shown no consideration for the victim at any stage, refusing to admit to the extremely serious sexual offences he committed and making the victim give evidence at court.

“Being subjected to the court process can be a stressful experience for victims in cases involving sexual offences, particularly when they are so young.

“We would like to praise the victim for the bravery shown in disclosing what Smith subjected her to and how she conducted herself whilst the trial was ongoing.

“On top of this, he also possessed more than 230 indecent images of children for his own sexual gratification – behind each of these images there is a child being sexually abused.

“We hope the fact that Smith is now behind bars, where he can no longer sexually exploit young girls, gives the victim and her family some closure.

“However, they will continue to receive the help and support they need to move forward with their lives.”

In addition to the custodial sentence Smith was ordered to sign the sexual offenders’ register and comply with a sexual harm prevention order for life.

Detective Sergeant Dave Walton, of the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “Sexual abuse is an unforgivable crime, and this is a particularly distressing case.

“I would like to thank the officers involved in this complex investigation for all their hard work in unravelling the extent of Smith’s offending and gathering the required level of evidence to secure convictions for all 24 offences.

“Smith’s attempts to engage with children online highlights the need for parents and guardians to warn their children of the dangers of communicating with people via social media, to check that they are using those applications safely and to keep an eye out for any warning signs of sexual exploitation.

“I hope that Derek Smith’s convictions and sentencing encourages anyone who has been subjected to similar offending to report it to the police.

“They should feel confident that they will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers and other support agencies we work alongside.

“All victims will be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, and any allegations will be taken extremely seriously and thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and the needs of the victim as our main priority.”

Record details

Gary Lewis was found guilty of 7 counts of child sexual abuse following an 5-day re-trial at Chester Crown Court.

The 57-year-old returned to Chester Crown Court on Friday 16 June 2023 where he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

In addition to his prison sentence, he has also been added to the Sex Offender Register for life.

During the trial the court heard how Lewis began abusing his victim when she was just three years old.

He held a position of trust and was supposed to be caring for her, instead he used his position to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

Over the next four years he subjected her to repeated sexual offences, including indecent exposure and rape. He would force her to watch pornography and encouraged other people to sexually abuse her.

The girl attempted to seek help at the time of the abuse, but Lewis denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the victim was lying.

The abuse finally came to an end in 2003 when all contact between the pair was stopped.

In April 2019 the victim contacted Cheshire Police to report the offences and Lewis was subsequently charged with multiple offences.

Record details

THE Crown Prosecution Service has commented after a Cheshire woman who posed as a man to become romantically involved with another woman was found guilty of a sexual assault.

Bilham was found guilty of sexual assault by kissing following a trial at Chester Crown Court which concluded on Wednesday, June 14. She was found not guilty of 16 other sex offences.

The CPS said Georgia Bilham, 21, of Bunbury Road, Alpraham, Cheshire, deliberately duped the other woman into thinking she was a man called George Parry from Birmingham.

A number of years ago, the two began talking on Snapchat. Bilham had the profile name ‘George_132’ and the picture attached to that profile was a cartoon image of a blonde man with sunglasses.

Georgia Bilham presented as 'George' both online and in person, for the whole time that she and the victim were in contact with each other.

When the two would meet up, Georgia kept her hood up, dressed and spoke like a boy and removed the victim’s glasses from her. The victim is very short-sighted and without her glasses is virtually blind. Georgia refused to let her victim touch parts of her body which would prove that she wasn’t a man.

The CPS said that the sexual activity that took place was based on a false pretence – and so did not involve true consent. Bilham deceived the victim into thinking she was in fact a young man. The motivation for the pretence is not clear.

On May 11, 2021, Bilham and the victim had been out driving together and the car came off the road. The car was stuck. Georgia panicked and told the victim to run – no doubt as there was a risk that her true identity would be established.

But the police arrived and spoke to Georgia in their car and the victim overheard them mention the name of Georgia Bilham which was on her driving licence. She confronted Bilham… “Are you a girl?’. Bilham replied ‘It’s a fake licence, cos I don’t have one – that’s why I told you to run….’

In the days that followed, Bilham worked hard to persuade her victim that she was a man. The deception finally came to light when Georgia met the victim’s mother who didn’t have the victim’s sight problems and became suspicious. She confronted her daughter with her doubts and the victim went online to find out more about Georgia Bilham.

On the night of August 19, 2021, the victim told Georgia: "Just admit you’ve been caught out I know more than enough now." The next morning, Georgia Bilham messaged the victim, apologising for what she had done, saying: “It just took over my life”.

The matter was reported to the police. Georgia Bilham was arrested and interviewed under police caution. To each question, she replied ‘no comment’.

Bilham will be sentenced on July 19 at Chester Crown Court.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Mairead Neeson, a specially trained prosecutor with CPS Mersey Cheshire’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit, said: “Sexual offences can be committed in different ways.

“The Crown Prosecution Service’s case here was based upon deceit, manipulation and the lack of genuine consent. We said that the victim didn't give her true consent to sexual activity with Georgia Bilham, that when the victim agreed to have sexual activity with 'George Parry' it was on the basis that George was male and not female and that she had been deceived.

“We said that Bilham’s actions in pretending to be male, deprived the victim of her freedom to choose whether or not to engage in sexual activity.

“This is because a person consents to sexual activity only if they agree by choice and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.

“The victim thought she was having sexual activity with a man. If she had known that the man she thought was George Parry was in fact a woman, she would not have agreed to the activity.

“This has devastated the victim and her family and the effects of it will remain with her for a long time. The victim thought she was in a loving relationship with a man but it was all lies and Bilham is now a convicted sex offender.”

Record details

Kyle Garner, 21, appeared in Chester Crown Court last week, May 26, to be sentenced for ten different charges related to ownership and distribution of indecent images of children, as well as encouraging someone to commit sexual crimes with a child, as well as himself arranging to meet an underaged person.

Prosecuting, Chris Hopkins told the court how Garner, of Chester Road in Preston Brook, was already subject to a suspended sentence and sexual harm prevention order, which prevented him from contacting children.

This was due to posting indecent pictures of children, for which he received 12 months, suspended for 24 months. 

He went on to describe how the Runcorn native had been found with 770 indecent images of children across multiple devices, including 13 extreme pornographic images.

As well as this, using an online app, he arranged for a 14-year-old to send them naked photos of themselves. Further, Garner arranged to meet them for sex, though this did not end up occurring.  

Mr. Hopkins went on to discuss the most shocking of the charges, in which Garner tried to arrange for another online user to rape their eight-year-old cousin.

In this incident, he was speaking to 14-year-old online. He engaged in a sexual conversation with the 14-year-old, having a long discussion with them about his sexual fantasies.

In this conversation, the defendant discussed his desire to have a sex slave who was between the ages of ten and 14.

The other user then informed Garner that their eight-year-old cousin was in the room.

The paedophile then told the user to rape their cousin for his pleasure. According to Mr Hopkins, there is nothing to suggest in the messages that this request was carried out.

In a separate incident found on the defendant’s phone, Mr Hopkins described a sexual conversation between Garner and a 14-year-old in which he had posed as a 15-year-old. In this conversation he requested sexual photos of the minor and had also briefly arranged to meet up for sex.

Defending Garner, Myles Wilson described an isolated man who “lives his life online.”

He reportedly was bullied at school and has a history of self-harm, stemming from his mother’s death when he was 8.

Garner was sentenced to five years in prison, with a minimum of three of these to be served in custody.

As well as this, he was placed on the sex offenders registry indefinitely.  

Record details

A former firefighter raped a girl over a three year period

Kevin Jones, of Norman Road, Runcorn, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday, January 27 where he pleaded guilty to six sexual offences, including three counts of rape of a girl under 16. All of the abuse happened over a three year period when the schoolgirl was aged between 13 and 16 years old.

The court heard the 49-year-old committed the offences up until Monday, September 19 2022.

Jones returned to court on Wednesday, May 31, where he was sentenced to 10 years in prison plus five years on licence.

Detective Constable Michaela Flynn from Cheshire Police, who led the investigation, said: “Firstly, I would like to recognise the bravery and determination that the victim has shown throughout this investigation. What Jones put her through was truly horrifying, he systematically abused her over a three-year period in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

“The sentence handed to Jones reflects the severity of his crime and I hope that his conviction will encourage other victims to come forward. We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and we will always do our best to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”

Record details

A Cheshire vicar and a woman he was having an affair with have been jailed for sexually abusing a child. Stephen Clapham, 61, was vicar at All Saints Church in Crewe and later in Church Lawton when he abused the child with Sally Shaw, 52, of Crewe.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the pair began an affair in 2016 when Clapham, of Middlewich, was vicar at All Saints Church in Crewe, and the affair continued when he moved to All Saints in Church Lawton. Clapham and Shaw engaged in sexual activity in the presence of a child, then incited the child to become involved in their sexual activity.

Indecent photographs of the child were also taken by Shaw and distributed to Clapham. The abuse came to light when the child made disclosures to staff at school.

In 2021 both Clapham and Shaw were arrested. Clapham largely gave no comment interviews, aside from commenting on the indecent photographs, though Shaw made full admissions.

Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced yesterday (April 20) to four years in prison each. Clapham and Shaw will stay on the sex offenders’ register for life.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also ordered by the Court and will also be in place for life. Restraining orders against Shaw and Clapham were also imposed in order to protect the victim.

A statement from the Diocese of Chester reads: "Upon receiving information about these matters in October 2021, the Bishop of Chester suspended the Revd Steve Clapham from all ministerial positions, including as Vicar of All Saints’ Church, Church Lawton; Rural Dean of Congleton; and Diocesan Ecumenical Officer in the Diocese of Chester. Steve Clapham later resigned from these roles."

Senior Crown Prosecutor Sarah Egan said: “Clapham was a vicar and held a position of trust and authority in the local community. He has abused that trust.

"These two people have put their own warped sexual interests above that of the welfare of the victim. This behaviour is completely inexcusable, but they have now been brought to justice.

“Their guilty pleas have avoided a trial, which is a positive outcome for the victim, and both have demonstrated remorse for their actions. The victim has shown immense strength and courage in coming forward to report this sexual abuse.

"We hope the conclusion of this case allows the victim to move forward and look to the future. We would like to thank the victim, witnesses, and the police and prosecution team for all their assistance and support in this matter.

“We would like to remind the public that offences of this nature are taken extremely seriously, and will be prosecuted were the tests in the Code for Crown Prosecutors are met. We would like to encourage anyone who has been a victim of crime to come forward."

Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Mark Tanner, said: “My thoughts and prayers are with all who have been traumatised by these events, especially the victim of Steve Clapham’s actions. Their bravery and strength of character have helped to convict a perpetrator of child sexual abuse.

“I cannot begin to express my shame and anger for the betrayal and pain that this young person has endured. I am sincerely sorry for what they have experienced and continue to live through.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the police and all who have worked to bring justice in this case, including our own safeguarding team. It is essential that those suffering harm know that they can ask for help and that they will be taken seriously.

“Everyone has the right to expect the highest levels of integrity and character from clergy in the Diocese of Chester. The Diocese of Chester is committed to fostering a safeguarding culture where all forms of church-related abuse are identified, reported, and addressed promptly and decisively.”

Detective Constable Laura Bradshaw of Cheshire Police said: “Firstly, I would like to praise the courage that the victim has shown throughout this case. Clapham held a position of trust and he took advantage of his standing in the parish and abused the trust of his parishioners by committing these crimes.

“Thankfully, as a result of the bravery shown by the victim, Clapham has now been held accountable and both he and Shaw are now behind bars. I hope this conviction encourages others to come forward if they have been subjected to abuse no matter how long ago. We do listen and we will support you whether that’s in going to court or in finding the appropriate services to assist you.

“Whilst the victim will never be able to forget about what happened, I hope the fact that Clapham and Shaw are now in prison and facing the consequences of their actions will provide the victim with some closure and enable them to begin to move forward with their lives."

Record details

Miles Chapman's prison sentence was suspended because he was 'for the first time engaging with the courses being offered'

A paedophile who was found with child abuse images has been spared jail after he demonstrated 'real motivation' to deal with his issues, a court has heard.

Miles Chapman, 29, of Castle View House, East Lane, Runcorn, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday (April 12) where prosecutor Brett Williamson told how a police officer with the sex offender management team paid a compliance visit to Chapman on December 17, 2021, and found his phone contained pictures of “concern”.

The sick collection had four Category A abuse images - the worst type, 13 at Category B, and 25 Category C, in addition to 31 prohibited computer-generated images (CGI), the Liverpool Echo reports.

They featured young girls in age ranges such as eight to 10 years or aged about 10 to 12 being abused. Chapman’s stash also breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed for similar offences at crown court in Manchester several years ago when he was banned from having pictures of children under the age of 16 - whether indecent or otherwise

He gave “no comment” answers when interviewed by officers from Cheshire Police on August 25.

Chapman later pleaded guilty at the first opportunity at North Cheshire Magistrates’ Court in Warrington on March 14 last month to posessing indecent images, three counts of making indecent images, one of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and one of possessing prohibited CGI.

Mr Williamson said Chapman’s criminal record showed a “long history of sexual interest in children” dating back to 2011, and convictions including making or possessing indecent images, failing to comply with community orders and the “notification requirements”, breaching a SHPO and detaining a child without lawful authority, for which he received a two-year community order.

In February 2022 he was sentenced to 16 months in prison with a further SHPO to last 10 years over indecent images.

Ben Stanley, defending, argued mitigation for Chapman’s guilty pleas and an offender management team report that said Chapman has been complying with his requirements since last leaving prison.

Mr Stanley said Chapman “spends a lot of time alone” and has “quite serious mental health issues”.

He said Chapman previously had “strategies for alleviating the negative feelings which are unhealthy”, but that now those “coping strategies have improved - he’s quick to distract himself with more positive activity” such as seeking support from friends.

He said the indecent image offences for which Chapman fell to be sentenced on Wednesday pre-dated his client’s most recent time in prison, which he said was Chapman’s “first significant taste of custody”, “gave him a real chance to reflect on his offences” and “instilled real motivation” to deal with his behaviour.

In addition, he said Chapman was diagnosed with autism at 18, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at 21, and suffers anxiety, having never held a job because he doesn't like going outside.

The defence barrister said Chapman had been referred for ADHD treatment and has been in touch with a group working with people with a “criminal background” and mental health issues, and would also be eligible for the Horizon sex offender programme.

Judge Simon Berkson sentenced Chapman to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation, and said he’d avoided immediate custody because Chapman was “for the first time engaging with the courses being offered”.

Chapman must also complete the Horizon programme, complete a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement and sign on the sex offender register for 10 years.

Collection, surcharge and deprivation orders - the latter for the phone - were made.

Judge Berkson said: “All your offending I’m to deal with occurred before you got your 16-month sentence and that sentence, having been imposed, is now having some positive effect upon you.”

The case, although a crown court case, took place at Chester Magistrates' Court.

Record details

A man from Jamaica who recklessly transmitted HIV to a woman has been jailed.

Jermaine Scott appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 4 April where he was sentenced to three years in prison.

The 39-year-old, from Jamaica, had previously pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm (section 20 assault).

Scott was diagnosed with HIV in 2005 and had been prescribed medication which if taken would have elimited the risk of transmission to others.

He and the victim had previously been in a relationship and rekindled their relationship in the summer of 2009.

When the relationship restarted, Scott was not taking his tablets regularly meaning that there was a higher risk of transmission. He also failed to inform the victim of his diagnosis and went on to have unprotected sex with the woman.

The victim became suspicious of his behaviour, and in October 2009, the pair attended a sexual health clinic. While at the clinic Scott provided a false name and false medical details to the health worker.

The victim subsequently tested positive for HIV and the pair ended their relationship. Following their split, Scott left the Cheshire area.

The incident was reported to Cheshire Constabulary in October 2009 and an investigation was launched to locate Scott. Following a public appeal, he was located and arrested in February 2011.

Scott refused to answer any questions put to him by officers and despite a detailed investigation officers were unable to gather sufficient evidence to charge him in relation to the incident and the case was closed. He was subsequently deported from the UK in November 2011 after it was found that he was in the UK illegally.

Shortly after his deportation, the victim asked the case to be reopened and detectives subsequently sought help from a number of medical experts who revealed that it was highly likely that the victim had been infected with HIV in the three months prior to her diagnosis, while she was in a relationship with Scott.

They also identified a number of genetic links between the strain of HIV that the victim had been diagnosed with and that of the offender.

In 2019 the additional evidence was presented to the CPS who agreed to charge Scott with grievous bodily harm (section 20 assault) in February 2020. An extradition warrant was issued, and he was returned to the UK in November 2022 to be charged in connection with the incident.

Record details

A MAN who groomed, repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted a girl over a number of years has been jailed.

Glyn Jones appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday, March 24, where he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, for which he must serve at least two thirds before being eligible for parole.

The 62-year-old, of Bradley Lane, Malpas, had previously been convicted of 17 counts of sexual abuse against a child following two trials at Chester Crown Court.

The offences include sexual activity with a child aged 11 to 15, rape of a child under 13 and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

In addition to his prison sentence, Jones has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

During the trial the court heard how Jones sexually abused his victim, who cannot be named, over a sustained period between March 2014 and March 2019, beginning when she was just 10 years old.

Prosecuting at the sentencing hearing, Myles Wilson read through a victim impact statement written by the girl, in which she described what had happened was "totally wrong" and she felt "disgusted and angry" for what had happened.

She explained she felt her world "crashing down" and had suffered panic attacks and stress, as well as regret and feeling manipulated.

A relative of the victim said the victim had "got a life sentence for what he has done to her" and there would "always be a shadow for the memory of the past few years".

Jones had no previous convictions.

Defending, Maria Masselis said Jones had not been in the best of health, having angina, undiagnosed growths in his stomach, arthritis, and had caught Covid-19 on a number of occasions which had affected his memory.

The court heard the sentence passed may be "longer than the years he has left".

Recorder Lawrence McDonald said it was "clearly a case of grooming and abuse of trust...in the grossest possible way".

He added: "You wanted her so you could rape her, interfere with her sexually, for your sexual gratification."

Jones was jailed for 15 years and, as "an offender of particular concern", would have one extra year on licence.

He was also handed an indefinite Sexual harm Prevention Order, preventing him from contact with girls aged under 16, and must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Following the sentencing Detective Constable Beth Colbourne, who led the investigation, said: “This case has left the victim and their family distraught, and I hope that the sentence will help bring some closure to then.

“Jones preyed upon a young child for his own sexual gratification and refused to take responsibility for the crimes he committed, making the victim and their family have to relive the horrific experience again through two trials. But thanks to the victim’s courage, he is now facing the consequences of his actions.

“The sentence handed to Jones reflects the severity of his crime and I hope that his conviction will encourage other victims to come forward.

“As this case demonstrates, we treat all reports of historic sexual offences seriously and we will always do our best to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”