WALLASEY MAN STEPHEN BOOTH JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEENAGE RUNAWAY IN SEACOMBE
In a case that has shocked the local community of Wallasey and the surrounding Wirral area, Stephen Booth, a resident of Borough Road, Wallasey, was convicted of engaging in inappropriate and illegal sexual activities with a teenage girl who was only 14 years old.The incident took place in December 2014, but the repercussions and legal proceedings extended into 2015, culminating in Booth's sentencing and subsequent release in 2016.
According to court records and police reports, Booth was aware of the girl’s young age when he initiated contact.
The girl, who cannot be identified due to legal restrictions protecting minors, had run away from her foster home and met Booth at the Five Bars Rest pub located in Seacombe on December 7.
The court heard that Booth’s interactions with her quickly escalated from casual contact to more inappropriate behavior.
Prosecutor Sarah Holt detailed that Booth first kissed the girl and touched her on the bottom during their initial meeting.
Over the following days, the two maintained communication through social media platforms, exchanging messages that contained sexually explicit content.
The girl returned to the pub the next day, and Booth engaged in further sexual contact with her.
The following day, they went to his flat situated above the Brighton Street premises, where the sexual activity continued.
Police intervened that same night, locating the girl and returning her to her foster placement.
During their investigation, authorities discovered explicit messages exchanged between Booth and the girl on social media.
In these messages, Booth claimed that he did not want to engage in sexual intercourse until he knew her better, which was a clear attempt to justify or delay the illegal activity.
The girl later told police that she considered Booth to be “a nice lad” and expressed her concern about getting him into trouble, highlighting her vulnerability and the manipulative nature of the interactions.
Booth’s actions were deemed serious enough to warrant criminal charges, and he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child.
At the time of sentencing, Booth was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, a standard measure for such offenses.
Despite having no previous convictions, his actions have left a lasting impact on the victim and the community.
After serving his sentence, Booth was released in 2016 and has since returned to Wallasey, where he continues to reside.
The case underscores the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable minors from exploitation and abuse.
