Three sentenced for sexual abuse of groomed girl

Three men who engaged in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl who had been groomed over social media have been given suspended jail sentences.

Michael Linfoot, 24, from Chorley and Thomas Rae, 24, of Chorley, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 in the Rivington area of Bolton in 2018.

Both were sentenced to 11 months in prison, suspended for a year, in a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday.

Callum Hesketh, 24, of Chorley, pleaded guilty to taking and distributing indecent photos of a child and was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for a year.

The court heard that on 23 April 2018, Hesketh sent sexual messages to the victim over a social media messaging platform.

He continued to call and message her over the next few weeks and then abused her on a video call, the court was told.

On the evening of 16 June 2018, the victim and her friend got a lift from the Adlington area with Hesketh and Linfoot.

The two men picked the two girls up in a white van, which belonged to Linfoot, telling the girls they would give them alcoholic drinks, the court heard.

They drove to Rivington and parked the van, where the victim's friend received a phone call and stepped outside the vehicle.

Hesketh and Linfoot then sexually abused the victim and, while this happened, Hesketh recorded the sex acts on his mobile phone and sent them out via a broadcast option on a social media platform, the court was told.

The victim heard Hesketh talking on his mobile phone and a short while later three more men arrived on motorbikes.

One of the men, Rae, approached the van and sexually abused the victim.

Afterwards, the two girls got into the rear of the van and Hesketh and Linfoot took them back to Adlington and purchased a bottle of wine for them before they drove off.

Speaking after the case, Det Con Robert Booth said: "Thanks to the bravery of the victim in coming forward and putting her trust in us.

"It must have been very difficult for her to have to sit through interviews and come to terms with what these men subjected her to."

"I want to send a clear message to any perpetrators of sexual abuse; that we will not tolerate this abhorrent behaviour, and we will bring you to justice," he added.

Det Con Booth urged any victims of rape and sexual abuse to contact police.

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