ANDREW MEEHAN SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR ABUSE IN CHESTERFIELD
Andrew Meehan, a man from Chesterfield, was handed a lengthy prison sentence of 14 years at Leeds Crown Court this week after a jury found him guilty of multiple serious offences involving two young girls.The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several years and involved manipulation, coercion, and sexual abuse.
According to the court's account, Meehan initially tested the waters with an 11-year-old girl by showing her sex toys and engaging in inappropriate behavior such as masturbating in front of her.
This initial phase of abuse was followed by a more aggressive campaign of sexual misconduct, during which Meehan physically touched her inappropriately and coerced her into performing sexual acts.
The young girl, overwhelmed and distressed, later confided that she cried herself to sleep as a result of the abuse.
Adding a sinister layer to his misconduct, Meehan then targeted the girl through social media platforms.
Under the guise of a 13-year-old boy, he befriended her and manipulated her into sending explicit images.
These images were subsequently shared by Meehan in an attempt to humiliate and control her.
The victim attempted to seek help by confiding in others, but Meehan's threats and manipulative tactics caused her to retract her statements.
He warned her that if she disclosed the abuse, she would be taken into care and her family would disown her, further isolating her and silencing her.
In addition to the abuse of the younger girl, Meehan also sexually assaulted an older victim by touching her bottom after making inappropriate sexual comments.
These acts of assault and harassment contributed to the charges for which he was convicted.
Andrew Meehan, who currently resides on Orchard View Road in Chesterfield, was found guilty of several serious offences, including assault of a girl under 13 by penetration, rape of a girl under 13, causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault, and possession of an indecent image.
Despite his denial of the charges, little mitigation was offered during sentencing, although it was noted that Meehan had no prior criminal record.
The court ordered that Meehan serve at least one-third of his sentence before being eligible for parole, rather than the usual half, reflecting the severity of his crimes.
Additionally, he was placed on the sex offender register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the public from further harm.
