CHRISTOPHER COWARD FROM LINCOLN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST UNDER-AGE GIRL

In a case that has shocked the community of Lincoln, a local father-of-four, Christopher Coward, has been sentenced to three years in prison following his conviction for sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13. The incident, which took place in Lincoln, led to a lengthy trial at Lincoln Crown Court, where the jury found Coward guilty of multiple serious charges.

Christopher Coward, aged 43 and residing on Carholme Road in Lincoln, faced four counts of sexual offences against the young girl. Despite his initial denial of all charges, the evidence presented during the week-long trial proved compelling enough for the jury to convict him on all counts on November 22. The offences included inappropriate touching, such as placing his hand under the girl’s trousers, touching her upper leg, and squeezing her breasts. Additionally, Coward allowed the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to touch him in a sexual manner, further compounding the severity of the case.

The court heard that three of these incidents occurred when Coward was not alone with the girl, raising concerns about the circumstances under which these offences took place. The prosecution emphasized that Coward’s actions were deliberate and predatory, highlighting the betrayal of trust involved in the case.

Throughout the proceedings, Coward maintained his innocence, denying all allegations after the girl came forward to make her complaint. However, the court was informed that the jury rejected the defence’s suggestion that the girl fabricated the allegations in collusion with her boyfriend. Judge Michael Heath, presiding over the case, delivered the sentence and made it clear that the offences were of a particularly serious nature. He stated that Coward had clearly formed a sexual interest in the girl, which justified the custodial sentence.

Judge Heath remarked, “The offences are so serious that I can only justify a custodial sentence,” and emphasized the gravity of the crimes committed. As part of his sentence, Coward was also disqualified from working with children and will be required to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community.

In mitigation, Michael Cranmer-Brown, representing Coward, pointed out that he had no previous convictions and described him as a single parent who had worked diligently to raise his four children. Mr. Cranmer-Brown also noted that there was no evidence on Coward’s phone or computer suggesting any predisposition towards underage girls, attempting to present a more sympathetic view of the defendant’s character. Despite these arguments, the court upheld the severity of the sentence, reflecting the seriousness of the offences committed in Lincoln.