Christopher McIntyre 37

Description

A girl nearly killed herself after being targeted by a rapist described as "every mother's living nightmare".

Christopher McIntyre started chatting to his victim on Instagram then gave her a "secret" mobile phone.

After sending the schoolgirl explicit images, he met up with the child and raped her on three occasions.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard how the girl has since tried to kill herself and once "almost succeeded".

The child's mum described how seeing her daughter lying in a hospital bed made her "break inside".

Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, told the predatory rapist: "You were every mother's living nightmare."

McIntyre, 35, of Risbury Road, Norris Green, claimed the allegations against him were "sick" and denied any wrongdoing.

He was found guilty of three counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault at a trial in July, after his victim was forced to go through the ordeal of giving evidence.

Sarah Holt, prosecuting, said the girl first chatted to McIntyre on Instagram in 2019, after which he provided her with a "secret phone".

Recorder Unsworth told him that instead of "having nothing to do with it, as you should have done, you sought to fulfil your own selfish and as it transpired predatory needs, by providing her with a secret mobile phone".

The judge said messages McIntyre sent her were "highly inappropriate", as he complimented her on her appearance and sent her explicit photos, and evidence showed he "implored" her to delete them.

Recorder Unsworth - who said the girl was a "highly vulnerable young child" and McIntyre knew this - added: "You were grooming her."

Ms Holt told the court how McIntyre later met the girl and took her to an address where he put on a film then raped her, during which the victim recalled how "she froze, she didn't know what to do and she didn't want this to happen".

The trial heard he raped her on two further occasions, before warning her not to tell anyone, leaving her feeling scared and very upset, before she began self-harming as a way of coping.

Ms Holt said McIntyre then rang the victim, which caused her to break down in front of friends, before she disclosed to them and later her parents and the police what had happened.

The court heard the abuse led to the girl making "a number of attempts on her own life", including "one particularly serious attempt", which her mum gave evidence about.

Recorder Unsworth told McIntyre: "You were every mother's living nightmare."

He said McIntyre behaved in "the most predatory and depraved way" and raped the girl three times "for your own selfish and gratuitous sexual needs".

The judge said McIntyre then "called her a liar and accused her of lying to the authorities and this court".

He said: "You not only turned her world upside down, you almost ended her world."

McIntyre showed no emotion in the dock as Recorder Unsworth continued: "I note from the contents of the pre-sentence report that you remain defiant and whilst your letter to the court expresses the view there are no winners in this, it is in my judgement an entirely self-serving and self-pitying letter."

The judge said the effect on the girl had been "devastating if not catastrophic" as outlined in victim personal statements read in court.

He said: "She has tried to take her own life on several occasions. On one occasion, she almost succeeded.

"There is only one person to blame for this and that is you."

Recorder Unsworth said not only did the victim suffer "severe psychological harm", he was satisfied it was of "an extreme nature".

He said when giving evidence, the child "impressed as an extremely brave young woman".

The judge said: "She was brave to say to the authorities what you had done, she was brave to tell her family what you had done, and anyone reading these statements can only wish her well as she moves on with her life, a life that was almost ended too short because of your actions".

Steven Swift, defending, accepted there had been a "profound and severe impact" upon the victim and her family.

Mr Swift argued an extended sentence wasn't required to protect the public, given the length of time McIntyre would serve if he received a determinate sentence, and that his client - who didn't have any previous convictions for sexual offences - was using his time in jail "productively" and had become an enhanced prisoner.

However, the judge concluded McIntyre was a "dangerous" offender, as defined in law, and that an extended sentence was required to protect the public, in particular girls.

He said in making that decision he had reminded himself of McIntyre's predatory, grooming and "manipulative" behaviour.

Recorder Unsworth jailed McIntyre for 18 years, with an extended four years on licence.

This type of sentence means McIntyre must serve at least two thirds of the custodial term - 12 years - behind bars.

He will then only be released before the end of the sentence if the Parole Board no longer considers him to be a risk and will have to serve an extended licence period.

Recorder Unsworth told McIntyre to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life, which includes a ban on him contacting his victim or her parents.