ADRIAN CROWE, COVENTRY PAEDOPHILE, JAILED FOR RAPE AND GROOMING IN MERSEYSIDE
In January 2018, Adrian Crowe, a former soldier and emergency preparedness manager from Coventry, was sentenced to eight years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl and engaging in sexual grooming.The 40-year-old knew the girl was underage when he arranged to meet her online and traveled approximately 130 miles from Coventry to Meols in Wirral, Merseyside, to carry out the assault in a field.
Crowe, who has since resigned from his position, had earlier communicated with the girl, who believed he was around her age.
When she mentioned she would be late for a meeting after school, Crowe offered to buy her a strawberry milkshake at McDonald's.
Police investigations revealed that Crowe had used a dating chat service called Anti-chat to contact multiple underage girls, asking one if she was 'jailbait.' His contact details showed he was actively seeking underage girls online.
At Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Alan Conrad, QC, described the case as “what must be every parent’s worst nightmare,” emphasizing the gravity of Crowe’s actions.
Crowe pleaded guilty to charges of raping a child under 13 and sexual grooming.
Prosecutor Martine Snowdon stated that the offense occurred on June 19, leaving the victim feeling “guilty, embarrassed and confused.” Phone messages indicated the girl had arranged to meet Crowe, who had offered to collect her.
The girl recounted to police that she received a Facebook friend request from someone named Adrian; after talking, he asked for her number, which she provided.
She believed she was speaking with a schoolmate, as her profile lacked a picture.
After the assault, Crowe drove the girl back to the location where he had collected her and told her “not to tell anyone.” He was arrested at a Pizza Hut in Coventry, during which he claimed, “Is this about the girl?
She told me she was 20,” although DNA evidence confirmed his contact with the victim.
Crowe later admitted to sexual contact and expressed embarrassment upon learning her true age.
Nevertheless, police uncovered messages on Anti-chat where he asked other girls, “Are you legal or jailbait?” and inquired about a 15-year-old girl, “Would you be OK doing it with me?” In addition to his prison sentence, Crowe was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which severely restricts his internet usage.
