ALPRAHAM WOMAN GEORGIA BILHAM SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN CHESHIRE

In August 2023, Georgia Bilham, a woman from Alpraham in Cheshire, received a court-ordered sentence that includes a 24-month community order. Additionally, she was mandated to register as a sex offender, reflecting the serious nature of her convictions. The case stemmed from a series of disturbing events that unfolded during her relationship with a young woman, which took place primarily between May and August 2021.

Back in June 2023, Bilham faced multiple charges related to her manipulative and deceptive conduct. She was accused of posing as a man, specifically under the alias George Parry, in order to engage in a relationship with her 19-year-old victim. The court was shown CCTV footage that captured Bilham wearing a disguise at a petrol station, where she donned a navy blue hoodie pulled over her head and grey tracksuit trousers, giving her the appearance of a young male. During this encounter, she was seen repeatedly tugging at her hoodie and looking down, attempting to conceal her identity from witnesses and the cashier.

Throughout the trial, it was revealed that Bilham maintained her false persona by keeping her long blonde hair hidden under the hoodie and adopting a deep Birmingham accent. She claimed that her hood was up because she was “paranoid” about ties to an Albanian drugs gang, a story she used to justify her disguise. The court heard that she would take away her victim’s glasses when they met, rendering her effectively blind and more susceptible to her manipulations. The prosecution detailed that Bilham faced 17 charges of sexual assault, with the allegations spanning from May to August 2021. However, she was ultimately found guilty of only one count—specifically, a sexual assault involving a kiss—while the jury acquitted her of the remaining 16 charges.

Further evidence presented in court included new CCTV footage showing Bilham in her disguise, purchasing what appeared to be sweets at a petrol station. She was dressed in her male disguise, with her hoodie pulled tightly over her head, and appeared to be trying to avoid recognition. The footage depicted her interacting with a cashier, during which she repeatedly adjusted her hoodie and looked down before leaving the premises.

The court also heard details about the development of the relationship through Snapchat messages, where Bilham operated under her online persona George Parry. She described how they eventually met in person, but after their initial encounter, the victim expressed suspicion, messaging Bilham that “there’s something weird about you,” and subsequently blocking her on Snapchat. Despite this, their “love-hate relationship” persisted and became increasingly toxic over time. The victim recounted feeling uncomfortable during two meetings, sensing a “hard willy figure” through George’s clothing, which added to her distress.

The deception was uncovered when the victim’s mother grew suspicious and told her daughter that George was actually a girl. This revelation left the victim feeling “sick” after she investigated George’s social media profiles and discovered Bilham’s true identity. The situation escalated when Bilham’s cover was blown after she crashed her mother’s car into a hedge during a drive with the victim on May 11, 2021. The victim later confronted Bilham after learning her real name from police, writing in a message: “Just admit you’ve been caught out, I know more than enough now.” Bilham responded, “I don’t even dress like a lad, it just took over my life,” admitting to her deception and the web of lies she had spun.

During police interviews, Bilham admitted to pretending to be George but insisted that her actions were not driven by sexual gratification nor an intent to trick the victim into sex. She acknowledged having sexual activity with the woman but claimed that the teenager was aware she was female. The prosecution argued, however, that the victim could not have given full consent because she believed George was genuinely male at the time of the sexual acts. Bilham denied placing anything in her underwear to mimic a penis and stated that her victim sometimes kept her glasses on during their meetings. She also denied nine counts of sexual assault and eight counts of assault by penetration.

Judge Michael Leeming addressed Bilham in court, stating, “You have been convicted of count one, an allegation of sexual assault.” She was granted bail ahead of her sentencing scheduled for July 19, but the judge warned that a custodial sentence remained a possibility. As part of her sentence, Bilham was immediately placed on the Sex Offenders Register, reflecting the gravity of her crimes and the court’s concern for public safety.