MICHAEL FARRELL SENTENCED IN CHESTER FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING TEEN GIRLS

In July 2010, a man identified as Michael Farrell was convicted of sexually abusing four 13-year-old girls, leaving a judge at Chester Crown Court deeply appalled.

Judge Roger Dutton sentenced Farrell, 20, of Haig Road, Widnes, to four years and eight months in prison. Upon release, he will serve an additional four years and eight months on licence. Farrell will also be registered as a sex offender for life and is prohibited from having unsupervised contact with any girl under 16, including specific victims he was barred from contacting.

During the sentencing, Judge Dutton stated: “You are 20, they were only 13. In each case, you forced the girls into a sexual encounter.

You had sex without protection. If one girl became pregnant, you’d have moved on to another one and dumped her with the child. It is disgusting.

There is no offence of rape but you took advantage of them and their vulnerability. You present a significant risk to young girls.”

Prosecutor Myles Wilson, QC, revealed that Farrell used Facebook and a mobile phone to contact the victims, aware their ages were displayed online. He had invited the first girl to his home, and Wilson added: “She agreed to have sex in case he flipped.”

The second girl reportedly struggled with depression, engaged in self-harm, attempted suicide, and suffered a miscarriage.

Defending Farrell, Simon Berkson asked the court to acknowledge his guilty plea, which spared the victims from giving evidence.

It was noted that Farrell had prior convictions, including the kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl, assault, battery, possession of an offensive weapon, cannabis possession, and breaching court orders.

As Farrell was led away from the dock, the father of one of the victims shouted, “I’ll be waiting for you.”