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A man from Bootle has been jailed for 21 years for rape and multiple sexual offences.
Michael Senior, 32, from Bootle, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today (Friday 19 September) after being found guilty of the following offences:
- Five counts of rape
- Two counts of sexual activity with a child
- Two counts of sexual assault
- Two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
He was also convicted of making indecent images of a child, distributing indecent images of a child and possession of extreme pornography, which he had pleaded guilty to before the trial.
It follows a complex investigation into a report that a 12-year-old boy had first been subjected to a serious sexual offence in 2013. There were further reports of sexual offences against the same person across a ten-year period.
As well as a prison sentence, Senior has also been placed on the Sex Offender’s Register for life and given a 20-year restraining order.
See below for an extract of a Victim Personal Statement read in court:
“Throughout the whole process, the investigation and the trial, Senior denied all the allegations put against him.
“This only enhanced the upset and trauma for the survivor of his appalling crimes and I sincerely hope this sentencing brings him some comfort.
“Thankfully the jury saw through Senior’s lies and found him guilty. He will now rightly spend a considerable amount of time in prison when he can reflect on his heinous actions.
“Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm.
“If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report this to police.”
Georgiana Panteli of the Crown Prosecution Service Mersey-Cheshire said:
“Over the course of a decade, Senior inflicted unimaginable trauma and it is testament to the extraordinary courage of the victim in coming forward that this abuser has been brought to justice.
“Working closely with Merseyside Police, we were able to show the jury how Senior violently threatened and intimidated his victim in an attempt to keep them silent.
“Despite Senior’s continued denial, we proved how he had lied about aspects of the case, including contradicting his own police interview when testifying in court.
“I hope today’s outcome sends a clear message that the CPS will relentlessly pursue those who sexually exploit children, and victims can be confident they will be heard, supported, and taken seriously.”