SOPHIE HINDMARCH FROM PENRITH CAUGHT IN SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL INVOLVING SCHOOLBOY IN CARLISLE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Penrith and the surrounding areas, Sophie Hindmarch, a woman aged 26 at the time, has been sentenced to prison for her involvement in grooming and engaging in sexual activities with a 14-year-old schoolboy. The incidents took place in late 2019 and involved a series of manipulative actions that culminated in illegal sexual encounters, some of which were recorded by Hindmarch herself.

Hindmarch, a mother of three and a resident of Penrith, Cumbria, was found guilty of nine charges related to sexual activity with a minor after a court hearing at Carlisle Crown Court. She had previously admitted to these charges during an earlier hearing, acknowledging her misconduct. The court sentenced her to 32 months in prison and ordered her to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register, reflecting the severity of her crimes.

The grooming process reportedly began when Hindmarch met the young boy at her home. Prosecutor Hugh McKee detailed that the boy estimated their meetings occurred between 10 and 13 times, during which Hindmarch manipulated him into sending sexualized images and videos. The court heard that Hindmarch used her mobile phone to film herself having sex with the boy on at least one occasion, further evidencing her inappropriate behavior.

The court was told that the initial contact was seemingly casual, with Hindmarch telling the boy, “You’ve left your lighter upstairs,” which marked the beginning of their inappropriate interactions. The court also heard that Hindmarch was aware her actions were wrong, as she instructed the boy to delete their messages and even denied the offences during police interviews before ultimately pleading guilty.

Following the revelations, police were alerted after the boy confided in someone about what had transpired. His father expressed deep concern over the long-term impact on his son, describing Hindmarch’s actions as “completely wrong” and emphasizing his worry about his son’s future well-being. The father’s statement underscored the emotional toll and the gravity of the case.

In a separate but related hearing in March 2021, Hindmarch, then aged 27 and residing at Raiselands Croft, Penrith, admitted to nine counts of sexual activity with the schoolboy. The court was informed that her criminal conduct spanned multiple locations and occurred on no fewer than five separate occasions, with the last count involving activities in various unspecified locations. The judge, Recorder Alex Leach, noted that while a psychiatric report had been provided, additional background information from the probation service was pending and would be prepared in the coming weeks.

Hindmarch appeared at Carlisle Crown Court via video link for the hearing and was granted conditional bail. The court scheduled her sentencing for April 8, where it was anticipated that a custodial sentence was inevitable. The judge emphasized that the probation service needed time to prepare a comprehensive report to determine the appropriate punishment, but made it clear that her actions warranted a prison term. The court proceedings highlighted the seriousness of the offences and the ongoing legal process to ensure justice is served in this troubling case involving a resident of Penrith and a young schoolboy from Carlisle.