CHRISTOPHER CROMBLEHOLME FROM BIRKENHEAD SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Birkenhead, Christopher Crombleholme, a long-standing member of the Boys Brigade, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for a series of heinous child sex abuse offences. The conviction follows a detailed trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where Crombleholme, aged 42 at the time, was found guilty of raping and indecently assaulting four young boys over a span of a decade, from 1988 to 1998.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Crombleholme, who also served as a children's wrestling coach, had been deeply involved with the Boys Brigade in Birkenhead for more than 20 years. His role included organizing activities such as wrestling, football, and swimming badges for children, which allowed him to establish close relationships with the boys and their families. These relationships, however, were exploited for his own sexual gratification.

The victims, now aged between 16 and 22, were befriended by Crombleholme through the Boys Brigade, and their families trusted him to take them on day trips and allow them to stay at his residence on Price Street, Birkenhead. It was during these visits that Crombleholme engaged in disturbing acts, including asking the boys to sleep in his bed and wear only their shorts, before subjecting them to indecent assaults and rapes. Two of the victims were as young as 11 and 12 years old at the time of the assaults.

The jury, after more than a day of deliberation, convicted Crombleholme on 16 charges related to sexual abuse. The court heard that police had seized numerous videos from his home, some of which depicted him wrestling with young boys in a manner that appeared to arouse him sexually. Prosecutor Peter Davies described these videos as being made for Crombleholme’s personal gratification, with some focusing on the boys’ legs and other explicit content.

Judge John Roberts described Crombleholme as “a danger to young boys” and ordered him to be disqualified from ever working with children again. Additionally, Crombleholme was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely, marking a lifetime restriction on his contact with minors.

Throughout the trial, Crombleholme maintained his innocence, claiming that he was the victim of a police witch-hunt targeting paedophiles. He also admitted during police interviews that he was gay and found boys under the age of 12 attractive. However, he denied any inappropriate conduct with the boys involved in the case.

Following the sentencing, Martyn Waters, the programme director of the Boys’ Brigade, issued a statement expressing regret and outlining measures taken to reassure parents and the community. He emphasized that such incidents are rare but taken very seriously, and assured that the organization is committed to safeguarding children and preventing future abuse.

Detective Constable Andy O’Connor praised the courage of the victims and their families for coming forward, stating, “This court case came about because of the courage of the boys. Now he has been jailed, his victims and their families will be able to close a chapter of their lives.”