MAN HAD A TWO-YEAR ILLEGAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GIRL
2019.A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison after grooming a 14-year-old girl into a secret relationship that lasted two years.
Peter Chorlton was able to evade justice for up to 17 years, during which time his former victim, who was then an adult, confided in her partner about the abuse as they prepared to get married.
Chorlton, who was 33 and living alone, met the young girl at a friend’s wedding party when she was just 13 years old, and he gave her his contact details.
The relationship began when she was 14, following incidents where he supplied her with alcohol and cigarettes and also added credit to her mobile phone.
The girl, who faced a difficult home environment, fabricated stories to meet with Chorlton.
She eventually stayed overnight at his home in Greater Manchester, where they engaged in kissing and fondling.
She later ended the relationship and moved away after Chorlton threatened to reveal their relationship to her family.
At Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, Chorlton, now aged 51, received a prison sentence of five years and ten months after admitting to indecent assault committed between 2000 and 2002.
His current partner and their son were present as witnesses in the public gallery.
Prosecuting Mr Robert Hall said: "In the year 2000, the defendant was at a wedding and, at the reception, he met the complainant, who was 13 years of age.
He was attracted to her and, despite a 19 year age gap, he gave her his phone number.
"What followed was a relationship that included sexual encounters.
She was flattered by him because her home life was troublesome.
"The defendant knew in the early days that there was something not right, but she was fully co-operative.
He lived in Dukinfield, alone, having separated from his partner.
"When the complainant turned 14 in August 2000, they began a relationship that lasted for two years, during which time she would regularly visit him.
She would make up cover stories to allow her to stay at his overnight.
"He would regularly get her cigarettes and alcohol, and top up her mobile phone.
He would invite her upstairs and they would fondle each other.
She knew that there was something wrong, but he said they could start a relationship.
"When the complainant was 15, her home life started to improve so she started seeing him less.
She was going to break it off with the defendant, but he wasn't happy and threatened to tell her mother.
"That threat worked for some time, but, eventually, she broke contact with him.
The complainant later moved out of the area but when she moved back, she decided to report him.
He was arrested and he admitted meeting her at the wedding, but didn't touch her." In mitigation defence barrister, Michael Brady, said: "The relationship went on for some time, but there has been no indication of him having a general, unhealthy interest in young girls.
The use of alcohol was grooming behaviour, along with the cigarettes.
"His partner and their child are in court and they do not condone his behaviour, but they want to continue as a family even when he is released." Sentencing Judge Mark Savill said: "Your victim was getting married and she and her husband had a frank conversation about past history.
"That prompted her to divulge to him, probably for the first time, that some years previously you was in an illegal relationship with her.
There was sexual activity, but she was underage.
"It was a very indecent relationship and it occurred on almost a daily basis.
This was a relationship, but it was an illegal one.
It seems that, fundamentally, you have accepted that your behaviour was wrong.
"There were also threats made and alcohol was used.
I have asked myself if this is a case that is serious enough for custody and I believe that it is." He was ordered to sign the Sexual Offenders Register indefinitely.
Chorlton's partner and son waved at him as he was led away to prison and his son was seen tearful, with his head in his hands outside the court room.
