CHRISTOPHER STOPHER FROM HARPURHEY SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL MESSAGES TO BOLTON SCHOOLGIRL

In August 2019, a man named Christopher Stopher, who resides in Harpurhey, was brought before Bolton Crown Court after engaging in inappropriate and illegal communication with a minor. Over a span of several days starting from June 12 of the previous year, Stopher, aged 31 and who went by the alias Tom, repeatedly sent a series of WhatsApp messages to a 15-year-old girl from Bolton. These messages included requests for her to send him indecent photographs of herself, an act that constitutes serious sexual misconduct involving a minor.

Prosecutor David Lees outlined the case, emphasizing that the young girl refused to comply with Stopher’s demands. She took the responsible step of blocking his number and reporting the incident to her school authorities. The school, in turn, contacted law enforcement authorities to investigate the matter further. The evidence collected confirmed that Stopher had engaged in sexual communication with a child, leading to his guilty plea in court.

During the hearing, Judge Graeme Smith addressed Stopher directly, sentencing him to six months in prison, though the term was suspended for two years. As part of his sentence, Stopher was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community service, participate in a sex offender rehabilitation program, and undertake 25 days of additional rehabilitation activities. The judge expressed his concern over the lack of explanation from Stopher regarding his conduct, stating, “You were unable to provide an explanation as to why you embarked on this rather extraordinary course of conduct over a relatively short period of time.”

This case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding online sexual misconduct and the importance of safeguarding minors from predatory behavior, especially in communities such as Harpurhey and Bolton where such incidents can have profound impacts on victims and their families.