DEAN WILSHAW JAILED IN STOKE-ON-TRENT FOR GROOMING UNDERAGE GIRL

In March 2010, a farm worker from Market Drayton was sentenced to prison after admitting to sexual offenses involving a minor. Dean Wilshaw was sentenced to two and a half years after pleading guilty to charges of sexually touching a girl under 16 and engaging in sexual activity with her on three occasions. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told that the 30-year-old, from Napley Heath, had unprotected sex with the girl at least once, and that she was instructed not to tell anyone.

Prosecutor Edward Coke stated, "All the evidence shows this young girl was groomed."

Wilshaw was arrested in March of the previous year. Although he acknowledged that the girl was underage, he denied having sexual contact with her but later pleaded guilty to the charges.

Defence lawyer Peter McCartney explained that Wilshaw, who had separated from his wife in late 2008, was in a fragile mental state at the time of the offences and stated, "He acted entirely out of character."

Judge Granville Styler remarked, "You knew she had a crush on you. You groomed her for your sexual gratification. You were more than twice her age."

Wilshaw was also ordered to comply with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and will be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years. He will serve no more than half of his prison sentence before being released on licence.