CHRISTOPHER MCINTYRE SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST YOUNG GIRL
A young girl nearly took her own life after being targeted by Christopher McIntyre, a man described as "every mother's living nightmare".McIntyre initiated contact with the girl via Instagram, where he provided her with a "secret" mobile phone.
Following their messaging exchange, he sent her explicit images and later arranged to meet her in person, during which he raped her on three separate occasions.
Liverpool Crown Court was told that the teenager struggled significantly after the abuse, attempting to take her own life multiple times, with one attempt nearly succeeding.
Her mother described the pain of seeing her daughter in a hospital bed and said it made her "break inside".
Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, addressed McIntyre directly, stating, "You were every mother's living nightmare." The 35-year-old, of Risbury Road, Norris Green, denied the allegations, claiming they were "sick," but was found guilty of three counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault in a July trial after the victim testified.
Prosecutor Sarah Holt explained that McIntyre first contacted the girl on Instagram in 2019.
Following this, he gave her a secret phone.
Recorder Unsworth criticized McIntyre for seeking to fulfill selfish and predatory needs instead of properly distancing himself, highlighting that instead of "having nothing to do with it, as you should have done," he chose to pursue the girl.
The court heard that McIntyre's messages were "highly inappropriate," including compliments on her appearance and the sending of explicit photos, with evidence indicating he pleaded with her to delete them.
The judge emphasized that McIntyre, aware of the girl’s vulnerability—as a "highly vulnerable young child"—was grooming her.
Ms.
Holt recounted that McIntyre later arranged to meet the girl at an address where he played a film before raping her.
The girl described how she froze during the assault, feeling helpless and not knowing how to react, and she did not want it to happen.
The trial revealed that he raped her two additional times, warned her not to tell anyone, and left her feeling scared and distressed.
As a way of coping, she began self-harming.
The girl eventually disclosed the abuse after McIntyre contacted her again, which caused her to break down in front of friends.
She later confided in her parents and the police.
The court heard that the abuse led to multiple suicide attempts, including a particularly serious one, with her mother providing evidence of her daughter’s suffering.
Recorder Unsworth reiterated, "You were every mother's living nightmare," condemning McIntyre's "predatory and depraved" behavior, which involved raping the girl three times for his own sexual gratification.
McIntyre then accused her of lying to the authorities and court, further devastating the victim’s life.
Throughout the hearing, McIntyre showed no emotion as the judge read the pre-sentence report, criticizing his apparent defiance and self-pity reflected in a letter to the court.
He described the impact on the girl as "devastating if not catastrophic," with her attempts at self-harm highlighted as evidence of the severe psychological harm he caused.
Despite her bravery in giving evidence, the judge noted that the girl had been profoundly affected.
"She was brave to tell her family and the authorities, and anyone reading her statement can only wish her well as she tries to move on," he said, acknowledging her near-fatal struggles.
Defense lawyer Steven Swift acknowledged the significant impact on the victim and her family, arguing that a lengthy sentence was unnecessary since McIntyre was unlikely to pose a danger upon release and had no prior sexual convictions.
He noted that McIntyre was using his time in prison productively and had become an enhanced prisoner.
However, the judge found McIntyre to be a "dangerous" offender as defined by law and concluded that an extended sentence was necessary for public protection, especially for young girls.
The court took into account his grooming, manipulative, and predatory conduct.
McIntyre was sentenced to 18 years in prison, with an extended four-year period on licence, meaning he must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial term or 12 years.
He will only be released early if the Parole Board determines he is no longer a risk, during which time he will serve an extended licence period.
The judge ordered McIntyre to register as a sex offender and comply with a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from contacting his victim or her family.
