FRODSHAM PAEDOPHILE TEACHER MICHAEL STONE SENTENCED FOR ABUSE OF YOUNG PUPIL IN CHESHIRE

In June 2020, Michael Stone, a teacher from Frodsham, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for engaging in a disturbing pattern of sexual abuse against a vulnerable 13-year-old girl. The heinous acts took place in his Cheshire home, where he took advantage of the girl’s trust and innocence while his wife was away. Stone, who was married at the time, exploited the girl’s naivety and emotional vulnerability, grooming her over a period of time and convincing her that they shared a special, loving relationship.

According to court proceedings, Stone began abusing the girl when she was just 12 years old. The victim kept her ordeal secret for many years, only revealing the details in November 2018 after watching a documentary titled ‘The Unforgotten,’ which prompted her to confide in her partner. The judge, Gary Woodhall, highlighted the girl’s difficult home circumstances, which contributed to her vulnerability and susceptibility to Stone’s manipulations.

Judge Woodhall described how Stone initially befriended and groomed the girl, treating her as an adult and fostering a false sense of closeness. He explained that Stone’s behavior was calculated to gain her trust and affection, which he then exploited. By the end of the summer term, Stone was able to isolate her after school hours, abusing her in the classroom itself. The abuse persisted into the following autumn term, during which he continued to manipulate her, even buying her presents to maintain her loyalty and affection.

The judge emphasized that the girl, due to her immaturity and vulnerability, naively believed that her relationship with Stone was genuine and that he cared for her, possibly even loved her. In reality, Stone’s intentions were far from innocent. The abuse extended beyond the classroom, with incidents occurring in his car and during outings to a secluded beauty spot at Hale. On one particularly distressing occasion, he coerced her into performing a sex act, which she found deeply unpleasant.

Further disturbing details revealed that Stone had taken the girl to his home in Frodsham, where he engaged in sexual intercourse with her. However, due to statutory time limitations, no charges could be brought in relation to this incident. The court was told that at the time, the girl believed she was consenting and that their relationship was mutual, but the reality was that as her teacher and an adult, Stone should have known better.

In his sentencing, Judge Woodhall described Stone as an offender of particular concern. He imposed an additional year’s license, meaning Stone will serve three years and three months before he can apply for parole. Furthermore, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The court also heard a poignant victim impact statement from the girl, who expressed her pain and the lasting scars of her abuse. She stated that she was speaking not only for herself but for the young girl she once was, emphasizing how she lost her innocence and childhood due to Stone’s actions.

In her statement, the victim described how she believed Stone cared for her and possibly loved her, which made her trust him completely. She recounted her feelings of betrayal and the difficulty she faced in accepting what had happened, even as a well-educated woman. She revealed that she had suffered panic attacks and struggled with feelings of guilt and manipulation. Her partner’s reaction to her disclosure of the abuse left her shocked and breathless, further illustrating the profound impact of Stone’s actions.

She condemned Stone as “a paedophile who had preyed on a vulnerable child,” asserting that she did not believe he felt any remorse. Her ultimate wish was for him to be punished and for his life to be forever changed, just as hers had been. During the court proceedings, Stone’s wife, who is also a teacher, was seen shaking her head and muttering to herself in the public gallery, indicating her distress and disapproval.

During the trial at Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that Stone had given the girl his home phone number. On one occasion, his wife answered the phone and told the girl she had “a crush” on her husband and advised her to leave him alone. Stone was found guilty by a jury of nine counts of indecent assault and indecency last month. He also admitted to two additional offences involving kissing the girl. The prosecution, led by Sarah Holt, detailed how Stone, who had worked as an IT teacher at a Netherley school for 27 years, began his abuse when the girl was just 12, even buying her perfume for her 13th birthday.

Holt explained that Stone targeted and groomed the girl, treating her as an adult and taking an interest in her. Over the years, the girl believed she was in a relationship with him, but as she matured and had her own child, she realized the truth—that what had happened was wrong and abusive. The court heard that after the initial assault in the computer room, Stone told her that “no one could ever know about this.”

Stone denied all charges related to the incidents in the 1990s, claiming that the kisses were merely “pecks” on the cheek, which he maintained happened about a dozen times. Despite his denials, the jury convicted him of multiple offences. As he was led away to the cells, his wife gave him a thumbs-up and told him to call her, a gesture that drew attention to the complex and troubling nature of the case.