MICHAEL POWELL SENTENCED IN WAVERTREE FOR HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE CASE

In October 2017, a disturbing case of child abuse came to light involving Michael Powell, an 80-year-old man from Wavertree. The court heard that Powell had committed heinous acts of sexual assault against a young girl over three decades ago, acts that have left deep scars on the victim's life.

According to the prosecution, Jonathan Rogers, Powell’s crimes began when the girl was approximately 11 or 12 years old. Powell, who was then serving as a caretaker, manipulated her into performing physical activities such as handstands and cartwheels in front of him, which served as a prelude to his indecent behavior. Over time, Powell’s actions escalated from inappropriate touching over her clothing to full sexual assault, even in the presence of other people who remained unaware of his crimes.

Rogers detailed that Powell would ask the girl to make noises as if she was enjoying the abuse and would show her pornography to influence her behavior. The victim recounted that Powell would give her money, and she later realized that the more depraved his conduct became, the more money he would offer her. Powell also supplied her with alcohol, sometimes without her knowledge, and expressed that he enjoyed her being intoxicated, as it made her more compliant to his demands.

The girl initially believed Powell’s behavior was normal, but as she grew older, she recognized the wrongfulness of his actions. She struggled to find a way to stop him and felt unable to confide in others, fearing disbelief or judgment. It was only earlier this year that she disclosed her ordeal to the police, leading to Powell’s arrest. During police interviews, Powell admitted to his misconduct.

As a consequence of the abuse, the victim has suffered from low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and emotional trauma. She described her early teenage years as marked by substance abuse, self-harm, and a sense of self-destruction, all stemming from the trauma inflicted by Powell.

At the court hearing, Powell, who used a loop system to listen to proceedings, pleaded guilty to four counts of rape, eleven counts of indecent assault, and three counts of indecency with a child. He was visibly frail, using a walker to move around and was assisted from the dock into a wheelchair to be taken to the cells.

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, condemned Powell’s systematic grooming and exploitation of a vulnerable child, emphasizing the devastating impact on the victim’s life. The judge described Powell’s behavior as “systematic” and highlighted that his actions had completely corrupted and destroyed the girl’s perception of a normal relationship.

Judge Menary expressed concern about Powell’s ongoing risk to children and the need to protect the public. He sentenced Powell to 11 years in prison, with a requirement to serve at least half of that term before being eligible for parole. Additionally, Powell was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life. The court also imposed an extra year on his license period, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and his history of avoiding detection for many years, which denied his victim justice.