Latest Offenders Cheshire

Description

A man who pretended to be a 15-year-old boy online in order to groom a teenage girl has been jailed.

Daniel Kennedy appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 22 May where he was sentenced to 13 months in prison, handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and made to sign the sex offenders register.

The 36-year-old of Crewe Road, Winterley, had earlier pleaded guilty of one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

The court heard how Kennedy initially contacted his victim in October 2024 via social media while posing a 15-year-old boy.

Following a number of conversations between the pair, he began to send the victim several indecent images and also encouraged the 15-year-old teenager to share images of herself.

The activity came to light in December 2024 when the victim’s mum spotted her daughter looking at the images on her mobile phone and reported the matter to police.

Following enquiries Kennedy was arrested in relation to the allegations and formally charged.

Detective Constable Simon Knowles said:

“Kennedy is a calculating, predatory offender, he purposefully posed as a teenage boy in order to groom his victim for his own sexual gratification.

“He was well aware that he victim was only a child, yet he sent her a number of indecent images.

“I would like to thank the victim and her family for the bravery and courage that they have shown, and I hope the sentence handed to Kennedy will provide them with some closure.

“This case is another reminder of the dangers posed to children online. We will continue to work with our partners and other forces to identify and apprehend offenders, while also educating families on steps they can take to keep their children safe online.”

Description

A 20-year-old pervert has been jailed after trying to meet an underage girl for sex and inciting her to perform sexual acts during vile online chats.

Louis Morrison, of Halton Lodge Avenue in Runcorn, was reported to police and charged with engaging in sexual communications with a child, arranging the commission of a child sex offence, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch sexual activity, and two counts of possessing indecent images of children.

He pleaded guilty and appeared at Chester Crown Court for sentence.

Prosecutor Peter Hussey told the court the offences took place in the second half of 2024. Morrison intentionally communicated with the girl for sexual gratification, calling her “baby” and “gorgeous”, telling her he “loved her very much” and that he wanted to have sex with her. He sent her lingerie and other gifts, photos of himself performing sexual acts, and incited her to perform sexual acts on herself while arranging to meet for sex.

Police found 41 indecent images of children on his phones, four in the most serious Category A.

Judge Simon Berkson ruled the offending too serious for anything other than an immediate custodial sentence. He jailed Morrison for four years in a young offender institution.

Morrison must sign the sex offenders register for life, abide by a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, forfeit his mobile phones, and is banned from contacting the victim for nine years.

Description

A man from Crewe has been jailed after breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Teejay Walton was sentenced to 30 months in prison at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 9 April 2026, after pleading guilty to two breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

The court heard that the 24-year-old had been released from prison in December 2025 following a previous sexual conviction.

Alongside his custodial sentence, Walton, of Timbrell Avenue, Crewe, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which remains in place until 2033.

Under the conditions of the SHPO, he was prohibited from contacting anyone under the age of 16 online and from deleting internet history stored on any digital devices.

The court was told that between 22 January and 27 January 2026, Walton used social media to engage in conversation with a child who openly told him she was 12 years old. Despite this, Walton chose to continue communicating with her.

He also deliberately changed the settings on his social media account to automatically delete messages after they had been sent, which was a clear breach of his SHPO.

On Wednesday 28 January 2026, officers from the Sexual Offender Management Unit attended Timbrell Avenue, Crewe, and arrested Walton in connection with the breaches and the sexual communication offence.

While in custody, Walton admitted that he had been speaking to someone he believed to be a under the age of 16. He also admitted breaching his SHPO by communicating with the child and by changing his social media settings, although he claimed this had been done without realising it was prohibited.

Police Constable Alex Barker, of the Sexual Offender Management Unit, said:

“Teejay Walton flagrantly breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order within a month of being released from prison, showing that he had clearly not learned his lesson.

“As a result of his multiple breaches, and his admission that he engaged in sexualised conversations with someone he knew to be under the age of consent, he has now been returned to prison where he is paying the price for his sickening behaviour.

“Officers from the Sexual Offender Management Unit regularly conduct visits to those on the Sex Offenders Register and those subject to Sexual Harm Prevention Orders to ensure breaches such as those committed by Walton do not occur, and to take appropriate action against those who choose to ignore the conditions imposed on them.”

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A 30-year-old man who worked at a Wrexham school has been jailed for grooming and sexually abusing a pupil.

Toby Haslam, 30, of Old Newcastle Road, Willaston, appeared for sentencing at Mold Crown Court today, 15 April.

He previously admitted nine offences including seven counts of sexual activity with a child – two of which were penetrative, a count of engaging in sexual communication with a child and possessing an indecent photograph of a child.

He was jailed for six years and handed a ten-year restraining order to protect the victim.

He also received a ten-year sexual harm prevention order and must register with police indefinitely.

In September 2024, North Wales Police received a report a Haslam had been grooming a 15-year-old child at the school he worked and had taken the girl to his home where he had sexually assaulted her.

An investigation discovered Haslam had been speaking to the child on social media. The conversations had become sexual, and he had bought her multiple gifts.

He was also found to have indecent images on his phone.

When the victim returned to school after a summer break, she reported her relationship with Haslam to a schoolteacher.

Investigating officer Detective Constable James Grimwood of the Vulnerable Persons Unit said:

“The victim in this case has been courageous throughout the police investigation.

“She was a vulnerable schoolgirl who had sought support from a member of teaching staff. By virtue of Haslam’s job title, he held a position of trust over her and abused his position of trust for his own sexual gratification.

“He has shown no signs of remorse throughout the investigation.

“The court outcome today reflects the seriousness of this incident, and I hope that this offers a level of closure for the victim.

“If any other person has been a victim of a sexual offence, I urge them to report this to North Wales Police.”

Description

A man has been sentenced for having and making indecent images of children in Runcorn.

Rory James appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 2 April where he was sentenced to 22 months in prison.

The 43-year-old of no fixed abode was previously found guilty by a jury of three counts of making indecent images of children, possessing indecent images of children, and possessing prohibited images of children.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register and subjected to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order as well as a rehabilitation activity requirement.

James was found in possession of a total of nine indecent images of children ranging from category C and B to category A, which is the most serious. He was also found in possession of extreme pornography.

Detectives from Cheshire Constabulary’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team acting on information they received, discovered the images after executing a warrant at his address.

DC Anna Hull said:

“Our team is dedicated to protecting children and are actively making enquiries into information we receive about those who may be involved in making, sharing or taking indecent images.

“You may think you’re safe looking at these abominable and illegal images in your own home, but that is not the case, and we may come knocking on your door one day.”

Description

A sex offender who continued to upload indecent images of children has been sentenced.

Peter Stilwell of no fixed address appeared at Chester Crown Court on 7 April to be sentenced after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

These related to 44 category A images of children, six category B images, and 2,051 category C images between 30 September 2023 and 2 February 2025.

The 38-year-old was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment.

Stilwell who was previously given a 12 month suspended sentence for 12 months in May 2023 was recalled to prison on 12 March 2025 after officers from Cheshire Constabulary’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) attended his former address in Runcorn following information he had uploaded indecent of images of children from the internet.

Stilwell was also subject to a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was also in breach of this order.

A number of digital devices were seized to be interrogated by digital forensic specialists, who later discovered thousands of indecent images and videos of children. They stopped at more than 2,000 images with a further 395,555 images and videos uncategorised. The remaining images were dip sampled finding further indecent images of children.

DC Kelsey Lee from the OCAIT team said:

“Stilwell was in clear breach of this SHPO following his similar conviction in 2023 for which he was given a suspended sentence. Despite this and the SHPO he continued his offending and thought he could get away with it. He has been in prison ever since and is now paying the price for his sickening behaviour.”

Description

A man has been jailed following reports of a sexual assault in Ellesmere Port.

Sayed Hasib, of no fixed abode, appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Monday 23 March 2026 and was sentenced to 12 months in custody.

The 30-year-old, who is from Afghanistan, had pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault.

Shortly before 6pm on Saturday 21 March 2026, officers were called to South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, following reports that a man had inappropriately touched a 13-year-old girl over her clothing.

Officers attended the scene and Hasib was immediately arrested. Following questioning he was later charged with the offence.

Chief Inspector Daniel Reynolds, of Ellesmere Port LPU, said:

“Hasib was quickly arrested minutes after the incident was reported, and in less than 48 hours has been charged and jailed for his actions.

“This highlights how seriously we take offences of this nature and we will take robust action.

“We understand the concern that this incident is likely to have caused in the local community, and we hope the swift conclusion of this case will provide members of the public with some reassurance.

“If you have any concerns about offences of this nature, please report them to us via 101 or through the Cheshire Police website."

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A man from East Timor who groomed and sexually abused a child in Winsford has been jailed.

Tomas Sarmento appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday 13 March, where he was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

The 43-year-old of the Winsford area, was previously found guilty of rape of a girl under 13 and causing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, following an eight-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court which concluded on Wednesday 21 January.

During the trial, the court heard how Sarmento groomed and sexually abused the victim between 2022 and 2023, starting when the girl was just 8 years old.

Sarmento would lure the victim to his home under the pretence that she could use his Wi-Fi. Once the victim was inside the address, he would sexually abuse her.

The victim later bravely confided in a friend about what Sarmento had done to her, and the abuse was subsequently reported to police.

Following the reports an investigation was launched by detectives and Sarmento was questioned in relation to the allegations, where he denied any wrongdoing.

Despite his denial, he was charged with the offences.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Ann Muldowney, who led the investigation, said:

“Sarmento is a dangerous predator, who is yet to show any remorse for the sexual abuse he forced a vulnerable child to endure.

“He deliberately abused his position as a trusted adult to isolate and manipulate the victim in order to subject her to obscene acts of sexual violence, and I welcome today’s sentence, which ensures he can no longer pose a risk to other innocent children.”

In addition to his sentence, Sarmento was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ register for 10 years.

DC Muldowney added:

“I commend the victim in this case, for the courage she has shown throughout the entirety of this investigation, despite having to relive her trauma during a trial, is truly remarkable.

“It is thanks to her exceptional strength and bravery that we were able to gather the evidence needed to bring this case before the courts and ensure Sarmento will never again have the opportunity to harm another child.

“I’d also like to thank the prosecution team for their efforts in securing justice for the victim and her family, and I hope today’s outcome provides them with some sense of closure as they continue to rebuild and move forward with their lives.”

Description

A sexual predator has been jailed for 11 years after sexual abusing a child.

Daniel Walker, of Plumley, was handed the custodial sentence on Friday 6 March at Chester Crown Court.

The 42-year-old had previously been found guilty of three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, and three counts of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The victim in this case disclosed she had been abused by Walker between the ages of seven and 12.

Walker was arrested in relation to the allegations and was dismissive in interview, even laughing and appearing amused at the officers’ questions.

Following a thorough investigation, Walker was charged with eight counts of sexual abuse against a child.

Detective Sergeant Chris Jackson said:

“The significant custodial sentence handed to Walker demonstrates the severity of his crimes and I am grateful that he is facing many years behind bars where he cannot do this to anyone else.

“He subjected a child to horrific abuse, something no child should have to endure. I would like to acknowledge the victim’s bravery in reporting these offences and I sincerely hope that the lengthy sentence handed to Walker will be of some reassurance to her.

“I also hope her courage in speaking to police will also help others who may wish to report similar offences to come forward; you will be listened to, and we are committed to investigating every report thoroughly and sensitively.”

Description

A man from Congleton has been jailed for over four years after forcing an 11-year-old child to engage in sexual communications.

Joshua Brookes appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 19 February 2026, where he was sentenced to four and a half years’ imprisonment.

The sentencing comes after the 21-year-old, of Vaudrey Crescent, Congleton, pleaded guilty to four counts of inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of making indecent images of a child.

The court heard that officers from Cheshire Police’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) had been investigating reports of online sexual activity between an 18-year-old man and a child.

On Tuesday 30 July 2024, OCAIT officers arrested Brookes and subsequently seized a number of digital devices belonging to him. These devices—a phone and a laptop—were inspected by digital forensic teams, who uncovered a series of threatening messages that had been sent to the victim.

The messages showed that Brookes pressured the girl into sending him sexualised images of herself. He went on to tell the child that if she stopped sending images, he would share them with people she knew, and he even threatened to harm himself and sexually assault her.

Across Brookes’ devices, nearly 30 indecent images were found.

Officers later identified the victim as an 11-year-old girl, who confirmed to them that Brookes had forced her to send the images and had made a number of threats towards her if she stopped.

In his interview with police, Brookes gave no comment to all questions and allegations put to him.

Despite his refusal to provide his side of the story or defend himself, Brookes was subsequently charged with the offences.

Alongside his custodial sentence, Brookes has also been made the subject of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Anna Hull, of CID Reactive North, said:

“Firstly, I would like to commend the victim in this case, whose help has been invaluable in securing this conviction against Joshua Brookes. Despite her young age, the bravery and courage she has shown in coming forward and speaking to police about the ordeal has been nothing short of inspiring.

“Brookes used fear and intimidation to manipulate his victim, a vulnerable child, making her feel guilty for not wanting to feed into his warped sexual fantasies. I am very glad to see that he has been handed a lengthy custodial sentence, which will, hopefully, allow the victim in this case and her family to begin to move on from this extremely alarming incident.

“Even when Brookes is eventually released from prison in 2030, he will be under continual monitoring under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, ensuring he will never cause harm to another vulnerable child again.”

Description

He was also subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The 48-year-old of the Winsford area, had previously admitted to four counts of rape of a girl under 13, three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, and four counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences occurred between 2023 and 2025.

During the investigation, specialist officers deployed a seminal detection dog to an area where some of the offences took place. The dog subsequently found Huband’s semen on one of the victim’s blankets.

Following the sentencing, the officer in charge of the case, Detective Constable Savy Joshi, said:

“This has been a really challenging case for a number of reasons, and so I’m relieved our hard work has paid off by securing justice for these innocent children.

“In the initial stages of our investigation, Huband dismissed the allegations outright, attempting to weaponise his status as an adult to portray the victims’ accounts as nothing more than childish imagination. But when PD Ebony located his DNA on one of the victim’s blankets, his attempts to deny responsibility fell short.

“Predators like Huband operate on manipulation and control, doing everything they can to silence and discredit those they harm. Thanks to the meticulous evidence gathered throughout this investigation, and the remarkable courage shown by all four victims, Huband has now been stripped of that control. We have exposed his lies, and he is now being held accountable for the atrocities he has committed.”

Detective Sergeant Laura Bradshaw, the Senior Investigating Officer, said:

“Cases of child sexual abuse are always devastating, but this one has been particularly harrowing for everyone involved.

“The children in this case had their lives shattered by the actions of one man who chose to exploit their vulnerability in the most appalling way. The trauma they have endured is unimaginable, yet they have shown extraordinary bravery throughout this entire investigation.

“Their strength has ensured that no other child will be harmed by Huband, no other child will experience what they have experienced.

“I would like to acknowledge the dedication of my team, who have worked tirelessly to build a comprehensive case that left Huband with no option but to plead guilty.

“His sentence reflects the gravity of the horrific abuse he inflicted upon his victims, and whilst they will never be able to forget about what happened to them, I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide them with some closure and enables them to move forward with their lives.

“I also hope this case encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report them to us.

“Any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.

“They will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers, as well as from other support agencies we work alongside, and all victims of sexual offences have the right to anonymity.”

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A Lithuanian man who sexually assaulted a woman in Winsford has been jailed.

Arturas Galinauskas appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday 30 January 2026 where he was jailed for 13 years.

The 29-year-old had earlier been found guilty of one count of sexual assault following a four-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court which concluded on Friday 12 December 2025.

During the trial, the court heard that at around 12.30am on Saturday 28 June 2025, the victim, a 19-year-old woman, visited the Hive in Winsford with two friends.

While at the premises the group were approached by a man who introduced himself as ‘Tommy’, who was an acquaintance of one of the victim’s friends.

At around 2.30am the group, including Tommy, decided to go back to the victim’s friend’s house nearby.

After returning to the address the group continued to drink, before the victim fell asleep in bed.

She awoke a short time later to find Tommy sexually assaulting her, he only stopped when victim’s friend returned to the room.

Following the incident the victim fled the address with her friend and reported the matter to police.

An investigation was launched by officers from Northwich CID who quickly identified Tommy as Arturas Galinauskas.

He was subsequently arrested in the Delamere Street area of Winsford. During questioning he claimed that all the sexual activity was consensual. Despite his claims, he was later charged in relation to the allegations.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Bethany Green, who led the investigation said:

"Firstly, I would once again like to thank the bravery shown by the victim throughout this case.

“The incident had a profound impact on her, but thanks her for the courage a dangerous man is now behind bars.

“While she will never be able to forget what happened that night, I hope that the substantial prison sentenced that has been handed to Galinauskas will provide her with some closure and allow her to move forward with her life.”

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

Detective Sergeant James Elliot, of Northwich CID, added:

“Nobody should have to experience what the victim has been though and if anything can come from this case, I hope that it encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report them to us. 

“We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.

“Victims should never feel ashamed to talk about what they have been subjected to. They will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers, as well as from other support agencies we work alongside, and all victims of sexual offences have the right to anonymity.”

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A man from Congleton has been jailed after he admitted to sexually abusing young girls online.

James Lawton appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 9 January where he was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

The 23-year-old, previously of Mill Street, Congleton, had earlier pleaded guilty to; causing a child to look at images of sexual activity, possession of indecent images of children, two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, three counts of making indecent images of children, and possession of extreme pornography.

He also pleaded guilty to inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

In addition to his prison sentence, Lawton was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

The investigation began in January 2025 when Cheshire Police received intelligence relating to Lawton’s online activity that suggested he was engaging in sexual communications with a child.

Subsequently, officers from the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team conducted a warrant at Lawton’s home in Crewe where he was arrested and a number of electronic devices were seized and sent for analysis.

During this time, officers received a further report from Sussex Police that prior to his arrest, Lawton had been requesting sexually explicit images from a 12-year-old girl in their force area.

Lawton told the child that he was 15 and sent her sexual images and videos of himself, encouraging her to do the same.

He also requested indecent images from a 9-year-old girl from Nottingham.

During examination of the devices, officers recovered 368 indecent images and videos of children, over 129 of which were category A.

Lawton was later charged with the offences, which took place between June and August 2024.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Phil Limberg of the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team at Cheshire Police, said:

“We are committed to pursuing and bringing to justice those who view indecent images online and prey on vulnerable children using social media and messaging apps.

“Lawton is clearly a dangerous and predatory individual who was intent on engaging with young girls online for his own perverse sexual gratification, despite knowing full well that they were underage.

“Thankfully he has been given a substantial prison sentence and can no longer pose a threat to young girls.”

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A mother tearfully confronted her rapist in court, saying, "You didn't listen to me when I said no, but you will listen now," as he was jailed for the assault.

Louis Cooper chillingly told his victim he "liked it when she was squirming" during the rape and laughed when he learned he had injured her. Though he denies the offense, the victim stated: "That day changed everything about me. The person I was before this happened died that day."

At Liverpool Crown Court, jurors heard that Cooper, 30, of Rossmore Road East in Ellesmere Port, began consensual sex with the complainant but suddenly changed position without consent. Despite her saying "Louis, no" and trying to push him off, he held her down and raped her. She was unable to "say or do anything" or "move." Afterward, he said: "Halfway through that, I realised I was raping you. I kind of liked it when you were squirming though." He later laughed about her injury and texted her referencing it.

In her victim impact statement, she said tearfully: "What he did to me didn't end when it was over. That day changed everything about me. The person I was before this happened died that day. People hear the word rape and think it's just one moment. It became my whole life. It followed me into my home, my job and sleep until nothing felt normal any more.

"I stopped trusting people. I became frightened of the world. My mental health deteriorated to the point that I tried to take my own life three times. I was not coping, I was not functioning and I was not surviving. I lost my confidence, independence and sense of self. I had to leave my job and move house in order to feel safe again. It still follows me every day.

"Louis Cooper didn't just hurt me, he scarred me. He took my peace, confidence and safety. He took years of my life. Surviving is not the same as living. This was not something I could just move on from. It followed me into every day and every part of my life.

"It didn't just only happen to me. My children watched their mum disappear. They watched me deteriorate, cry and shut down. They've lived with the aftermath of something they should never have been touched by. I wanted to protect them from everything, and I couldn't protect them from the things he did to me.

"My family have lived with this for years too, living with the fear that, one day, they would lose me. I will carry the impact of this for the rest of my life. This is for you Louis. You didn't listen to me when I said no, but you will listen now. This was rape, this was abuse and it nearly killed me."

Cooper has one prior conviction: three years in prison in 2020 for drug trafficking. Defense barrister Mark Connor argued: "He has no previous convictions for any violence at all. He has no previous convictions for any sexual offence. This appears to be an isolated incident. While on bail for a significant period of time, he committed no further offences. This is not a case that calls for an extended determinate sentence. Mr Cooper knows that he will receive a significant sentence of imprisonment. I ask your honour to pass the least possible sentence commensurate with the seriousness of these offences."

Convicted of rape by jury, Cooper appeared via video link from HMP Liverpool, wearing a grey Under Armour sweatshirt, with short dark hair and a beard. Judge Brian Cummings KC sentenced him to eight years in prison plus four years on extended license, noting: "It is apparent that you continue to deny the rape. It is apparent, more than three years on from the offence, that her thoughts continue to be dominated by the rape, and her life has been severely adversely affected.

"It cannot be said that this is your first experience of custody. It is, of course, now your second such experience. I take account of the character evidence presented on your behalf. It is apparent that there is a better side to your character. I take account of the fact that you have a young child. That is always a tragic aspect of any case where a court has to impose a prison sentence.

"I am afraid, notwithstanding the submissions made by Mr Connor, my own assessment, having observed the evidence given in the trial in your case, including your own evidence, is that there is a significant risk of serious harm being occasioned to members of the public by the commission by you of further specified offences. I am not satisfied that a determinate prison sentence will be sufficient, and the sentence in your case will be an extended licence sentence."

Cooper received a lifelong restraining order barring contact with the victim and must sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

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A convicted paedophile from Winsford has been jailed again after he was found in possession of thousands of indecent images of children.

Gary McVeigh, of Delamere Street, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 6 January where he was sentenced to 14 months in prison.

The 48-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to possession of an indecent of a child, possession of a prohibited image of a child, possession of an extreme pornographic images and three counts of making indecent images of children.

The court heard how on 21 May 2025, officers attended McVeigh’s address as part of the routine checks made to monitor registered sex offenders.

During the visit, officers discovered a mobile phone, a laptop, a USB stick and an SSD memory card. After checking the content of the devices, officers discovered a number of indecent images.

During further checks officers recovered more than 12,950 indecent images of children. There was also evidence showing that McVeigh had distributed more than 120,000 images to other paedophiles.

Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Helen Wrigley said:

“As a registered sex offender, McVeigh was subjected to a number of vigorous checks on a regular basis to prevent reoffending and ensure he was keeping to his conditions.

“He was well aware of these checks, but despite this he continued to offend, downloading and sharing thousands of indecent images which showed vulnerable children being tortured, raped and abused.

“Thankfully, through our effective monitoring, McVeigh was quickly arrested and is now facing the consequences of his actions.

“I hope it reassures people that we do carefully monitor registered sex offenders in the community and take action when a breach is discovered.”

In addition to his prison sentence, McVeigh was also ordered to pay £187 costs and sign the sex offenders register for ten years.