Care worker raped girl at home he worked in

A care worker groomed and raped a vulnerable teenage girl he was supposed to be looking after.

Kevin Cooper-Shaw committed a series of offences against the underage victim at a care home where he worked in Ellesmere Port.

Shortly after the abuse was reported to Cheshire Police in November 2021, Cooper-Shaw was arrested and indecent images of children were found on his phone, the force said.

The 45-year-old was jailed for 16 years, with an additional three years on licence, on Friday after earlier being found guilty by a jury at Chester Crown Court.

In total, jurors found he committed 19 sexual offences against the girl including rape, sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust, and other offences.

The paedophile, of Kingsmead Road North in Oxton, Wirral, was also found guilty of two counts of making indecent images of children.

Det Con Katie Ashcroft, who led the investigation, described Cooper-Shaw's offending as "truly horrific".

"Cooper-Shaw was meant to be in a position of trust, safeguarding and caring for young people", she said.

"Despite knowing this, and how vulnerable the victim was, Cooper-Shaw violated and betrayed that trust, abusing and deeply traumatising the young victim at a time when she should have been made to feel safe."

DC Ashcroft also paid tribute to the girl's bravery in reporting the offences and giving evidence in court.

She added: “I hope this encourages others who have been subjected to such abuse to come forward.

"They will get the support and advice they need to help them come to terms with their ordeal, and if they so wish, put their abuser before the courts."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected]