Locations
Shaw Lane, Prescot, Merseyside, L35
Description
A former cheerleading coach has been jailed after being found guilty of sexual offences against children as well as possessing and distributing child abuse images.
Today (Monday 5 February 2024) Tom Walsh (DOB: 06/08/1986) of Shaw Lane, Prescot was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court after he was convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse against three girls, as well as possession and distribution of child abuse images. He was sentenced to 15 years in jail with a further 5 years on license. He also received a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and was registered as a sex offender for life.
The 37-year-old was found guilty of 28 charges relating to sexual offences against children which took place between 2011 and 2020, following a criminal trial at Bolton Crown Court that concluded on Friday 2 February 2024.
Walsh was a cheerleader and assisted in the coaching of children for a number of years where he met two of the victims, whilst the third he groomed online.
The sexual offences against the three victims were committed in Manchester and Liverpool, although Walsh also communicated with a number of girls across the UK to obtain child abuse images from them.
An investigation into his offending was launched following an investigation by Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCU) where covert officers communicated with Walsh online. As enquiries progressed, Walsh’s sexual interest in children – young girls - became apparent.
The investigation led to Walsh being arrested on 20 August 2020 on suspicion of possession and distribution of child abuse images.
The investigation subsequently uncovered numerous indecent images of children saved on Walsh’s device and messages between himself and a number of victims. He primarily used the app Snapchat to communicate with his victims and evidence of screen recording software was recovered which showed how the defendant had saved child abuse images and his conversations with victims.
Following an extensive investigation, a number of victims were identified, including the three girls who were victims of child sexual abuse. Walsh contacted one victim online when she was just 13-years-old and over the next 6 years groomed and sexually abused the girl, even sending her child abuse images. Two further victims, who were teenagers at the time and came contact with Walsh through cheerleading, were identified during the investigation.