CHRIS WEARING SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN ACCRINGTON

On January 21st, Chris Wearing was formally sentenced to a total of 23 years in prison at Preston Crown Court, following a series of heinous crimes involving a young girl from Accrington. The court heard how Wearing, aged 42, meticulously groomed a 13-year-old girl over a span of two weeks before subjecting her to sexual assault and rape, actions that have shocked the local community and brought to light the dangers of online grooming.

According to court records, Wearing initially engaged with the girl on the social media platform Wink. Under the guise of a 16-year-old boy named Chris Hay, Wearing began a conversation that quickly took a disturbing turn. His true age and intentions remained hidden as he manipulated the young girl, establishing a false persona to gain her trust. The grooming process continued on Kik Messenger, another social media app, where Wearing’s communication became increasingly sexual and explicit in nature.

During these exchanges, Wearing made unsettling statements, including an admission that he enjoyed seeing women get punched during sexual activity. The predator then escalated his manipulative tactics by asking the girl if she would be willing to meet him in person. To facilitate this, Wearing introduced a second male, also claiming to be named Chris, referred to as 'Chris 2,' who was in fact himself. Wearing, still posing as Chris Hay, requested the girl’s phone number so that he could arrange a meeting with Chris 2, with the intent of engaging in sexual activity.

He instructed the girl to keep their interactions secret, and meticulously guided her through the process of booking train tickets from Wigan North Western Station to Preston, and then onward to Church and Oswaldtwistle Station. Wearing then met the girl at the station, where he took her to his residence in Accrington. It was at this address that he committed the sexual assault and rape, acts that have caused significant distress and trauma to the victim.

The victim’s mother, suspicious of her daughter’s whereabouts, tracked her phone to Wearing’s address. Concerned, she made a phone call to the residence, which caused Wearing to panic. In a desperate attempt to cover his tracks, Wearing threw the girl out of his home through the back door, instructing her to climb over a fence so her mother would not discover his address. Immediately after the girl was picked up by her mother, both 'Chris Hay' and 'Chris 2' blocked her on social media, cutting off any further communication.

Following his arrest, Wearing faced multiple charges, including rape, sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child, and meeting a girl under 16 following grooming. He pleaded guilty to all charges. At the time of his arrest, Wearing was described as having no fixed address but was previously residing on Howard Close in Accrington.

In court, Wearing was deemed a dangerous offender and was sentenced to an immediate term of 15 years in custody. An additional eight years will be served on extended licence, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the threat he poses to the community. The case has underscored the importance of vigilance in online interactions and the devastating impact of grooming and sexual exploitation of minors.