DAVID MCMURTRY FROM ELLESMERE PORT SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN CHESTER
In a case that has shocked the community of Ellesmere Port, David McMurtry, aged 49, has been handed a severe prison sentence of 23 years after being found guilty of a series of heinous child sex offences.The conviction follows a detailed trial at Chester Crown Court, where the evidence against him was deemed overwhelming by the presiding judge, Judge Steven Everett.
McMurtry, residing at William Johnson Gardens in Ellesmere Port, was convicted on ten counts related to child sexual abuse involving three young girls.
The youngest victim was only seven or eight years old at the time of the offences.
The court also found him guilty of possessing 26 indecent images of children, in addition to earlier guilty pleas to one charge involving the possession of 161 prohibited images.
The offences spanned over a decade, with prosecutor Nicholas Williams outlining that McMurtry had repeatedly incited the young girls to engage in sexual activities.
The court heard that these acts had taken place over several years, causing profound and lasting damage to the victims.
The judge emphasized that the three most serious charges—those involving incitement to sexual activity—merited consecutive sentences, reflecting the gravity of McMurtry’s actions.
During the court proceedings, each of the three victims, whose identities remain protected, courageously read out victim impact statements.
They described the devastating emotional and psychological toll that McMurtry’s abuse had inflicted upon them.
The victims recounted suffering from nightmares, night terrors, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia.
They expressed how their childhoods had been irreparably altered, with one victim explicitly stating, “I hate him and I am upset for what he did to me.” Further distress was revealed when one victim recounted an uncomfortable encounter at Ellesmere Port Market, where McMurtry sat beside her, making her feel very uneasy after she had given her statement to police.
Another victim shared that she had seen McMurtry in the street about a year prior and was met with his laughter, which she described as deeply upsetting.
She expressed her feelings of hatred and disgust towards him, stating, “I can’t put into words how much I hate him; he disgusts me.” Judge Everett addressed the victims directly, reassuring them that the blame for what happened lies solely with McMurtry.
“There is only one person to blame [for what has happened] and that is him.
It’s not you.
There is nothing that any of the three of you did wrong,” he said.
Although McMurtry had no previous criminal convictions, the court highlighted that he exploited three extremely vulnerable young girls.
The judge described his behaviour as “truly disgusting” and emphasized the courage of the victims in coming forward and giving evidence in court.
He pointed out that McMurtry’s actions demonstrated a complete lack of remorse and understanding of the harm caused, especially given his apparent attitude during the incident at Ellesmere Port Market, where he sat next to one victim and laughed at another.
In sentencing, Judge Everett made it clear that McMurtry’s conduct warranted a significant punishment.
He stated, “Your victims had to go through the truly awful process of coming forward and giving evidence in court.
The jury rightly saw through your facade and convicted you of these terrible offences.” The judge also issued a stern warning to others contemplating similar crimes, underscoring that such actions would result in lengthy prison terms.
McMurtry was sentenced to a total of 23 years in prison and will be placed on the sex offenders register for life.
The court also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from making any contact with his victims or having unsupervised contact with females under 16 without parental or guardian approval.
The order restricts his access to devices capable of storing images, data encryption software, and the internet unless monitored by authorities.
All devices used to obtain indecent or prohibited images are to be confiscated and destroyed.
As McMurtry was led away to begin his sentence, he showed no visible emotion.
Judge Everett concluded by expressing his hope that the sentence would provide some measure of closure for the victims and their families.
“Any sentence that I pass here today is not long enough as far as you are concerned.
I hope it gives you some sense of closure.
There is only one person to blame here and that is the person who has gone through the door [to prison],” he said.
