ANDREW CHAPMAN, CARLISLE CHILD RAPIST, SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS IN PRISON
In October 2021, Andrew Gordon Chapman, a 51-year-old man from Carlisle, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 19 years after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of young children.The court heard that Chapman, whose actions have left deep scars on his victims, engaged in disturbing communications via WhatsApp, where he boasted about abusing children as young as two or three years old.
These messages were described by Judge Nicholas Barker as 'despicable and repulsive,' and they played a significant role in the case against him.
Chapman’s arrest followed an intervention by online paedophile hunters, who confronted him at his residence in Carlisle.
During the police investigation, authorities seized his mobile phone, which contained a series of incriminating messages.
These messages detailed the sexual abuse of children and included Chapman’s own admissions and boasts about his actions.
The judge emphasized the severity of these communications, highlighting their disturbing nature and the impact they had on the victims.
Throughout the trial, the jury was presented with evidence that Chapman had raped and sexually abused two young girls.
He had also instructed them to keep their abuse a secret, further compounding the trauma inflicted upon them.
The court heard that one of the victims was as young as two or three years old when the abuse occurred, underscoring the heinousness of his crimes.
Chapman, who works as an HGV driver, faced multiple charges, including two counts of raping a child under 13, three counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13.
Despite denying the allegations, the jury found him guilty on all counts.
During the sentencing hearing, emotional victim impact statements were read aloud, revealing the profound and lasting damage caused by Chapman’s actions.
In response, Judge Barker delivered a stern and condemning statement, asserting that Chapman had 'ripped up' the childhoods of his victims and left permanent scars.
The judge remarked that Chapman had shown no remorse, only reacting with indignation when confronted by the vigilante group and upon hearing the jury’s verdict.
In addition to his prison sentence, Chapman was designated as an 'offender of particular concern,' which extended his license period by an additional year.
The court mandated that he serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole, and his release would only be considered if a parole board deemed it safe.
Furthermore, Chapman is required to register as a sex offender and adhere to a strict, indefinite prevention order to prevent any future offenses.
At the sentencing, Chapman appeared emotionless, dressed in a loose blue T-shirt and trousers, as he was led away from the courtroom to begin his sentence.
Several members of the jury, some visibly distressed, returned to court to witness the formal sentencing, underscoring the gravity of the crimes committed and the justice served.
