CHRISTOPHER BOOTH'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN MOULD AND WREXHAM: EX-TEACHER SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In June 2018, a disturbing case unfolded involving Christopher Booth, a former teacher from Wrexham, who was convicted of multiple heinous crimes related to child exploitation and possession of indecent images. The court heard that Booth, aged 59, had a long history of offending, with previous convictions for child sex offences, and his latest actions further exemplified his predatory behavior.

Booth, who had been employed at The Groves School in Wrexham until his dismissal in 2003, was found to have engaged in grooming a 14-year-old girl, which culminated in sexual assault. The Mold Crown Court was informed that between November 2017 and January of the following year, Booth repeatedly contacted the young girl through text messages, picked her up in his vehicle, and invited her to his residence. During these encounters, he showered her with compliments, gave her gifts such as CDs and gift vouchers, and engaged in inappropriate physical contact. His actions left the victim feeling hopeless and paranoid, with her school performance suffering as a result.

Despite being under a court order issued in May 2015 that prohibited him from contacting children under 16, possessing images of minors, or accessing the internet, Booth blatantly violated these restrictions. Investigations into his home in January and March revealed that he had been accessing the internet, contrary to the terms of his order. Authorities discovered a USB stick concealed in a vase, along with other memory sticks, DVDs, and cards hidden within a workbench side panel in his shed. The police found over 13,000 indecent images and videos of children, some of an extremely graphic and disturbing nature.

Booth’s criminal record is extensive. He had previously been jailed three times for child sex offences, including a 2006 conviction for breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) by downloading more child abuse images and harassing a 17-year-old girl. His earlier convictions also included a 2004 sentence for possessing child pornography, and a 2015 jail term for downloading indecent images. His repeated breaches of court orders and his continued possession of such material demonstrated a persistent pattern of offending.

During the sentencing hearing, the victim provided a heartfelt statement, describing her feelings of despair and paranoia, and explaining how her academic performance had been negatively impacted. Judge Rhys Rowlands condemned Booth’s actions, emphasizing the depravity of the material he had viewed and produced. The judge highlighted the severity of the abuse depicted in seized videos, describing them as “appalling” and “beyond belief.”

In addition to the five-year prison sentence, Booth was handed an eight-year extended sentence, which includes a three-year period on licence. He was also placed under an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and ordered to remain on the sex offenders register for life. The court’s decision reflected the seriousness with which the justice system views such offences, especially given Booth’s history of offending and breaches of previous court orders.

North Wales Police’s Public Protection Unit spokesperson, PC Ryan Edwards, commented on the case, stating, “Those who do not comply with the obligations of their order, as is this case, will be out back before the courts and where appropriate, imprisoned. Booth blatantly breached his SOPO and we would like to assure the public that North Wales Police will take swift, positive action when offences occur.”

Booth’s criminal trajectory also includes a 2006 conviction for possessing indecent images of children, which resulted in a three-year sentence. His history reveals a disturbing pattern of re-offending, with multiple breaches of court orders and continued possession of illegal material. His actions have caused significant harm to victims and have prompted ongoing efforts by law enforcement to monitor and prevent such offences in the future.