JOHN CARR FROM WIDNES SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES NEAR HIS HOME IN WIDNES

In a serious case that has shocked the local community of Widnes, John Carr, aged 49, was sentenced to three years in prison at Warrington Crown Court for inciting a teenage girl to engage in sexual activity. The incident, which took place on the afternoon of Thursday, June 4, 2015, has left a lasting impact on the victim and her family.

Prosecutor Matthew Dunford detailed the events leading to Carr’s conviction, explaining that the young girl, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was returning home from a local shop through an alleyway behind her house when she encountered Carr. Carr, who was present on the street wearing a dark T-shirt and walking a small dog on a lead, approached her and made an indecent proposition. The court heard that Carr’s actions and words caused the girl to feel shocked and frightened.

According to Mr. Dunford, Carr then asked the girl, “Can I have your knickers?” outside her house gate, an act that further distressed her. The girl, overwhelmed and scared, shouted for her father and began to panic. She quickly ran up a path back to her house, seeking safety. Her father initially tried to locate Carr on foot but soon jumped into his car to find him. The police were called, and Carr was subsequently arrested.

During police interviews, Carr admitted to having been drinking heavily that day, stating that he had consumed two bottles of brandy and two bottles of cider. He denied making any inappropriate comments to the girl at the time of the incident. The court was also informed that Carr has a prior criminal record, including a community order issued at Chester Crown Court last December for making and possessing indecent images of children, as well as possessing extreme pornography.

Victim impact statements read out in court revealed the profound emotional toll the incident has taken on the girl. She expressed that the event is “always on my mind” and that she now fears leaving her house’s back gate. Her mother’s statement added that her daughter was so distressed that she was vomiting all night and was shouting for her father even in her sleep.

Judge Neil Flewitt QC, presiding over the case, sentenced Carr to three years imprisonment for the charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The judge described Carr as a “potentially dangerous man” and emphasized the seriousness of the offence, especially given that it occurred effectively on the girl’s doorstep. The judge also highlighted Carr’s intoxication at the time, noting that he was under the influence of alcohol, prescribed, and non-prescribed drugs during the offence.

In his remarks, Judge Flewitt acknowledged the bravery of the victim and her mother, instructing the prosecution to inform them of his admiration for their courage. The court’s decision underscores the gravity of the crime and the need to protect vulnerable members of the community from such predatory behavior.

Earlier, in December 2014, John Carr had been handed a community order after admitting to making and possessing indecent images of children and extreme pornography. He appeared at Chester Crown Court on December 12, 2014, where the Recorder of Chester, Elgan Edwards, sentenced him to two years’ supervision, a 10-year sexual offences prevention order, and ordered him to register as a sex offender and pay costs of £500. Carr’s previous convictions included two counts of making indecent photographs of children, one count of possessing indecent images, and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images, including 200 images of bestiality.

Prosecutor John Oates explained that Carr pleaded guilty to these offences on October 13, 2014. The court was told that among the images found on Carr’s Toshiba laptop were a single Category A indecent photograph, which is classified as the most serious, and 254 images in Category C. The extreme pornography included images of individuals engaging in unnatural acts with animals. Officers had executed a warrant at Carr’s residence on April 30, 2014, which led to the discovery of these images.

Defence counsel Simon Christie described Carr as a man “cursed and crippled by alcohol for some considerable time,” suggesting that his actions were influenced by his substance abuse. He emphasized that the images were “dreadful” and that intervention was necessary. Judge Edwards warned Carr that such material is highly dangerous and that continued possession or creation of such images could lead to even more severe consequences.

Overall, the case highlights the ongoing issues of sexual misconduct and the importance of community safety, with the courts taking firm action to address and penalize such offences committed within the Widnes area.