MAN JAILED FOR SEX ABUSE
A man from Southend, Michael Binder, has been sentenced to jail after being convicted of abusing girls he met through his family's school uniform store.The 44-year-old, living at Bournes Green Chase in Shoebury, was found guilty of five separate sexual offences involving three victims all connected to Pauls Discount on Southchurch Road.
During the period of the offences, Binder, in his late 20s, was operating a business formerly run by his parents, called Pauls School Wear and Uniform Shop.
Aside from his business pursuits, Binder has worked as a DJ.
He pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activities with a 15-year-old girl and creating sexual videos with a 16-year-old girl.
He was also convicted by a jury of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl he lured into the shop’s stock room.
At the sentencing hearing at Basildon Crown Court on June 2, prosecutor Richard Scott stated that Binder demonstrated grooming behaviour.
The judge, Recorder Clark, sentenced him to five years imprisonment, describing the offences as “a series of shocking crimes against children.” He noted the jury believed Binder was dishonest.
In court in 2025, Binder admitted to three of the five child sex offences.
Before his 2026 trial, he also admitted a fourth charge.
Reporting restrictions initially prevented the media from revealing these pleas, since they concerned the youngest victim, a girl who believed she was 14 when he assaulted her.
The young woman testified that Binder accessed her Facebook profile in the shop and commented on her shorts, suggesting she “looked like she was asking for it.” She recounted that he took her to the stock room, where he initiated a game involving school uniforms, and then inappropriately touched her when she complained of back pain.
Her mother confirmed she came home upset and disclosed the incident, and she confronted Binder, who denied everything, claiming only that he massaged her daughter.
The jury returned a majority verdict of 10-2 in Binder’s favour.
It was only after this that the court learned he had pleaded guilty to additional offences involving three victims.
One of the victims was a 16-year-old girl with whom he had a relationship and filmed sexual videos, which is unlawful despite her being over the age of consent.
The third victim was a 15-year-old girl he had sexual contact with.
His defence lawyer, Mr.
McAlinden, argued that Binder had led a “positive and responsible family life” for several years following the offences and was a family man with two young children.
He emphasised the impact of the sentence on the family, especially his wife, who has been under scrutiny and faced false online accusations.
Binder expressed remorse in a letter to the court, stating, “I regret these actions every day.” Nevertheless, a pre-sentence report indicated his remorse was limited, and he showed signs of minimising his actions.
When sentenced, Binder appeared distressed but maintained composure with family, and the court determined he would serve around 40% of his five-year term before being eligible for release.
He will also be subjected to lifelong sex offender registration and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order upon release.
