CHRISTOPHER BROWN FROM BACUP SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY BEHAVIOR INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN OLDHAM

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Oldham and Bacup, Christopher Brown, aged 48, has been sentenced to an indefinite term of imprisonment following his conviction for a series of serious sexual offenses involving a vulnerable 14-year-old girl from Oldham. The incidents, which took place over a period of time, revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior by Brown, who was found to have exploited the girl’s youth and emotional vulnerability.

Brown, whose residence is on Burnley Road in Bacup, was convicted by a jury at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester of multiple charges, including engaging in sexual activity with a minor, child abduction, offering controlled substances to a minor, attempting to escape from police custody, and breaching bail conditions. The court heard that Brown had befriended the young girl, who was experiencing difficulties in her personal life, and had repeatedly taken advantage of her trust.

The girl’s mother had been actively involved in reporting her missing on several occasions. It was through these reports that police discovered her at Brown’s house in Bacup. The mother expressed her deep concern over her daughter’s whereabouts and her increasing fears about the relationship. Evidence presented in court indicated that Brown had supplied the girl with amphetamines on multiple occasions, which she admitted to consuming regularly. The relationship between Brown and the girl escalated to sexual intercourse at least twice, with the court hearing details of these encounters.

Prosecutor Alaric Bassano emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “The complainant in all the charges is a 14-year-old girl who was befriended by the defendant. She was a girl not without her difficulties. She was repeatedly reported missing from her home in Oldham and it is clear she frequented the defendant’s home in Bacup, without her mother’s permission. Her mother was concerned about her whereabouts on a number of occasions. Her daughter would stay overnight and their relationship involved him giving her amphetamines, which she said she consumed on every occasion. It is also clear that the relationship progressed to a sexual relationship on at least two occasions when full sexual intercourse took place. Such were her mother’s concerns that she went to the police about her suspicions.”

Brown’s defense attorney, Anthony Morris, attempted to mitigate the severity of the sentence, stating, “The defendant is a man who has a partner and they are having a child. The provision of amphetamine should not be taken out of context.” However, the judge, Thomas QC, was unequivocal in his assessment. He remarked, “I have to consider whether you pose a significant risk of harm to others. In my view, you do pose that risk. There were two other girls — one of them being your present partner and the mother of your child. That was clearly a relationship that involved you when she was young, if not under age. All of that rings alarm bells in my ears.”

Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Alison Troisi from Oldham’s Operation Messenger team commented on the case, saying, “This girl wanted to be treated like an adult and Brown took advantage of her vulnerability.” The case underscores the ongoing concerns about grooming and exploitation within communities, and the importance of vigilance and intervention to protect vulnerable minors from predators like Christopher Brown.