MICHAEL CHAPMAN FROM TROUTBECK SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN CUMBRIA

In November 2017, a serious case involving Michael Chapman, a 22-year-old man from Troutbeck, Cumbria, came to light when he was found to have engaged in online communications with what he believed to be underage girls. The court proceedings revealed that Chapman had attempted to initiate sexual conversations with a girl he thought was only 13 years old, but in reality, he was communicating with an undercover police officer.

During these exchanges, Chapman used explicitly sexual usernames that clearly indicated his intentions. Initially, he claimed to be 17 years old, but when the girl expressed a desire to speak with someone more mature, he disclosed his true age. From the very beginning of their online interaction, the conversation quickly turned sexualized, with Chapman asking the girl if they could meet and whether she was interested in engaging in sexual activity.

The court heard that Chapman’s messages included questions about going somewhere together and discussions about having sex. At one point, the girl mentioned she was at school, yet Chapman persisted in trying to arrange a sexual encounter. The police later raided his home and examined his internet devices, uncovering evidence that he had also been communicating with a 15-year-old girl from the Philippines. Her age was confirmed by her date of birth listed on her online profile.

Chapman admitted to multiple child sex offences, including distributing and creating indecent images of children, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to have sex in the presence of a minor, and sexually communicating with a child. He also confessed to trying to incite a 15-year-old girl from the Philippines to engage in sexual activity.

Representing Chapman, Mark Shepherd expressed that the prosecution’s case was a shock to both the defendant and his parents. Chapman had already spent approximately four months in custody on remand before the case was brought to court.

Judge Peter Hughes QC delivered the sentence, describing the case as deeply troubling. He emphasized that Chapman had exploited the internet as a tool for sexual gratification, which was a matter of significant concern for the public. The judge also noted that the time Chapman had spent in prison should serve as a stark reminder that prison is not a place to be taken lightly and hoped it would lead to a change in his behavior.

As part of his sentence, Chapman was ordered to complete a 36-month community order, including 30 days of rehabilitation and participation in a sex offenders group work programme. Additionally, he was prohibited from working with children in the future, reflecting the severity of his offences and the need for ongoing supervision and restrictions.