CHRISTOPHER TOPLISS FROM CLEATOR MOOR INVOLVED IN SEX OFFENDER CASES AND ONLINE GROOMING SCANDAL

In July 2023, a serious legal case unfolded involving Christopher Topliss, a known sex offender from Cleator Moor, who faced multiple allegations related to his breach of legal restrictions and online misconduct. The charges stem from his actions of installing a private web browser and deleting internet history on a device, actions that raise significant concerns about his compliance with court orders and his ongoing risk to the community.

Topliss, aged 35, was formally accused of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on four separate occasions. These breaches occurred between February and March 2022, during which he allegedly installed a private browser on three different occasions. The purpose of these installations appeared to be an attempt to conceal his online activities, as he also reportedly deleted internet history from a device in his possession by installing and uninstalling various applications and their contents. These actions were carried out on or before June 15, 2023, according to the charges.

Furthermore, authorities allege that Topliss failed to declare multiple aliases to the police within the required three-day window, a legal obligation for registered sex offenders. This failure to disclose aliases is considered a serious breach of his registration requirements and raises concerns about his transparency and compliance with legal mandates.

When Topliss appeared at Workington Magistrates’ Court on a recent Tuesday, he did not enter any pleas to the charges brought against him. The case has been scheduled for a plea and case management hearing at Carlisle Crown Court on August 25, where further legal proceedings will take place.

It is important to note that Topliss has a prior criminal history related to online sexual offenses. In February 2017, he was convicted of engaging in online grooming activities targeting children. During that case, the court heard that he used online gaming networks to initiate conversations with minors, particularly on gaming console platforms. He would manipulate these children, often helping them to win games to gain their trust, and then exploit that trust for sexual purposes.

Topliss’s criminal activities extended to traveling to meet a victim in person, which further demonstrated the premeditated nature of his offending. His actions were uncovered through an investigation by the National Crime Agency’s Cyber Crime Unit, which linked him to multiple online relationships with girls under the age of sixteen. As a result of his crimes, he was sentenced to three years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court. The judge described his conduct as meticulously planned by a “predatory individual.”

As part of his sentence, Topliss was ordered to register on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and was also subjected to a ten-year sexual harm prevention order. He admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a child, grooming a child online, and violating the Computer Misuse Act section three.

The investigation revealed that Topliss used various tactics to manipulate and deceive his victims, including lying and social engineering techniques to persuade minors to share personal information. He also operated a fake teenage social media profile, where he posted malicious software links in comments, attempting to infect visitors’ smartphones with malware. At the time of his arrest in October 2015, authorities found evidence of hacking activities and inappropriate conversations with children on his computer. Notably, he was in the process of purchasing thousands of followers to artificially inflate the popularity of his fake profile, demonstrating his ongoing attempts to manipulate online perceptions and deceive others.

These cases highlight the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Topliss, who continue to violate legal restrictions and exploit online platforms to target vulnerable minors. The community and law enforcement remain vigilant in monitoring and prosecuting such offenders to protect public safety and prevent further harm.