CAMERON CHAMBERS BURTON SEX OFFENDER AND CHILD RAPIST JAILED FOR 12.5 YEARS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Burton, Cameron Chambers has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 12 and a half years for heinous crimes involving a young girl. The offences, which took place over a series of disturbing incidents, involved coercion, sexual assault, and blackmail against a 15-year-old girl, highlighting the severity of his actions and the devastating impact on the victim.

Chambers, aged 24 and residing on Churchill Street in Burton, was found guilty of three counts of rape. The court heard that he had manipulated and exploited the young girl, who was only 15 at the time, through a combination of threats and psychological coercion. The judge, Mark Eades, expressed his condemnation of Chambers' conduct, stating, "She was only 15. For her to have this sort of experience must have been devastating. You got her to degrade herself and you told her you had videoed your sexual activity in order to increase your hold over her. One dreads to think how long this might have continued."

As part of his sentence, Chambers was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, a measure that underscores the gravity of his crimes. Additionally, he was banned from working with children and from communicating with anyone under the age of 16, restrictions designed to protect others from potential harm.

The case was initiated after the victim confided in a friend, prompting police investigation. Prosecutor Peter Cooper revealed that Chambers initially contacted the girl via a messaging service, falsely claiming to be a 15-year-old boy, while he was actually 22. Their conversations gradually turned sexual, with Chambers requesting explicit photos of the girl. She eventually sent the images, after which he became very complimentary, only to later blackmail her into meeting him.

The first meeting occurred during a school half-term break, with Chambers waiting behind a door at his residence without revealing his face. During this encounter, he raped her. Over the following days, on two more occasions, the girl was coerced into visiting his home, where she was subjected to further sexual assault. The girl’s distress grew, and she eventually confided in a friend, leading to police involvement. Chambers was arrested, denying any contact or meeting with the girl, but evidence linked him to a Blackberry used for communication, and DNA evidence confirmed her presence on his bedding.

During the trial, the victim described her feelings of shame and distress, stating, "She felt personally ashamed of the stress brought on her parents. She found herself feeling cheap and dirty." The court also heard that Chambers had attempted to deny any involvement, but the evidence was overwhelming.

In a related case from August 2014, Chambers, then aged 23, pleaded guilty to grooming and raping the same girl. Prosecutor Peter Cooper outlined that Chambers had pretended to be another 15-year-old online, engaging in extensive grooming and coercive sexual activities. He admitted to raping the girl on three separate occasions in February and March of that year. Defense lawyer Darron Whitehead requested that Chambers remain on bail pending sentencing, which was granted by Judge Paul Glenn. The judge ordered a pre-sentence report to assess Chambers’ background and potential danger to the public, with sentencing scheduled for September 19.

Chambers was also ordered to reside at his home address and to register with police as a sex offender immediately upon leaving court, emphasizing the ongoing concern for community safety and the seriousness of his crimes.