ST HELENS AND WIGAN OFFENDERS CHLOE BRADLEY AND ANTHONY ROSCOE INVOLVED IN CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of St Helens and Wigan, a teenage girl and a man have been convicted of serious sexual offences involving a young girl. The incident, which took place in August 2017, has brought to light the disturbing extent of exploitation and the failure to protect vulnerable minors.

Chloe Bradley, who was 17 at the time of the offence, was found to have arranged a sexual encounter involving a young girl and her on-off boyfriend, Anthony Roscoe. The young girl, who was a minor, was lured into a situation where she was coerced into participating in a threesome with Bradley and Roscoe. The events unfolded in Wigan, with the victim being taken from her home to Roscoe’s residence in St Helens.

The police became involved after a patrol officer noticed the girls leaving Roscoe’s house at approximately 5:30 in the morning. Upon investigation, authorities examined Bradley’s phone and discovered messages that detailed her communication with Roscoe about the planned encounter. When questioned, Roscoe made a chilling remark, stating, “When somebody hands you the Holy Grail, you’re going to grab it, aren’t you,” revealing his apparent justification for his actions.

The victim, who was missing from her home at the time, provided a statement expressing her emotional trauma. She described feeling numb and confused about her experiences, noting that the incident had profoundly affected her mental health. She reported difficulty sleeping, recurring flashbacks, and a newfound wariness around men. Her statement conveyed her feelings of hatred towards Chloe Bradley and her ongoing struggle to cope with the aftermath. She expressed relief that Bradley and Roscoe had pleaded guilty, indicating her relief at avoiding a more traumatic trial.

Chloe Bradley, now 19 and residing with her grandparents in Worsley Hall, Wigan, pleaded guilty to charges related to arranging a child sex offence. She was sentenced to 22 months in prison, suspended for one year. Additionally, she was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring tag for three months and to sign the Sex Offender Register for a period of ten years. Her actions included attempting to cover up her involvement by deleting messages from her phone, which contained sexualized conversations with Roscoe.

Anthony Roscoe, aged 29 and from St Helens, admitted to the charge of rape and was sentenced to four years in prison. His conviction stemmed from his direct involvement in the sexual assault of the young girl, which was facilitated by the arrangements made by Bradley. The incident was part of a series of concerning behaviors, as Roscoe had not previously met the victim but was aware of her age through Bradley’s communications.

Prosecutor Simon Blakebrough highlighted the manipulative nature of the communications between Bradley and Roscoe. He explained that the messages, primarily exchanged via WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, contained highly sexualized content over several days. On the night of the incident, Bradley messaged Roscoe stating she was “on the bus,” and expressed her willingness to participate in a threesome with the victim, both of whom she described as “up for it.” Many of these messages had been deliberately deleted by Bradley, possibly to conceal her involvement.

Further evidence revealed that Roscoe had cautioned Bradley not to bring any children to his house, indicating some awareness of the inappropriate nature of the situation. When arrested, Roscoe denied the allegations, claiming that he felt “sick” about the events. During police interviews, he admitted to having sexual intercourse with both Bradley and the victim, asserting that Bradley had told him she was 17. He described the sexual acts, including kissing and intercourse, which occurred in his presence and with the victim watching.

The court heard that the victim was only 12 years old at the time, and her father had previously issued a Child Abduction Warning Notice to Bradley due to concerns about her contact with the girl. The prosecutor emphasized that the victim appeared significantly older than her age, often wearing makeup and older clothing, which was noted by her father. Her behavior had deteriorated, and she had been attending parties with Bradley where she was exposed to drugs and alcohol, making her vulnerable to exploitation.

Judge Graeme Smith delivered the sentencing, condemning the defendants’ actions. He pointed out that Roscoe believed the girl was 16 and that her consent was ostensible, but emphasized that a child under 13 cannot legally consent to sexual activity. The judge described Bradley’s role as manipulative, noting her attempt to cover up her involvement by deleting messages. Roscoe was also subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely. Bradley received a similar order for five years, reflecting the severity of their crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect the public from further harm.