CHRISTOPHER RODGERS FROM HUYTON CAUGHT IN CHILD SEX OFFENDER PLOT IN LONDON

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Christopher Rodgers, a 38-year-old man from Huyton, was found guilty of attempting to facilitate the sexual abuse of a nine-year-old girl in London. The incident unfolded after Rodgers engaged in a covert online operation, where he expressed a disturbing willingness to pay another man £200 to sexually assault a young girl, revealing a heinous intent that was ultimately thwarted by law enforcement.

Rodgers’s involvement came to light when an undercover police officer, operating under the alias 'Andy', infiltrated a Kik Messenger chatroom titled 'JB Sluts and Schoolgirls' on August 21 of the previous year. The chatroom, which had a total of 49 members, was a hub for individuals sharing and discussing illegal content involving minors. Rodgers, who used the username 'CR', was among the participants, and during the investigation, authorities uncovered his disturbing online activity.

Prosecutor Natalia Cornwall detailed that Rodgers had posted images of two young girls, claiming to have spoken to them online the night before. These images, which were non-indecent, drew criticism from other members of the group, who deemed the girls too young, leading to Rodgers being expelled from the chatroom. Additionally, Rodgers shared a video depicting a naked girl estimated to be between 10 and 11 years old, which fell into Category C — the least severe classification of indecent images.

As the investigation progressed, the undercover officer initiated a private conversation with Rodgers. During this exchange, Rodgers claimed he lacked experience with real girls but inquired whether 'Andy' had access to a child. The officer responded that he lived in London with his nine-year-old daughter, prompting Rodgers to ask if the girl had any sexual experience. The conversation took a darker turn when Rodgers sent a video classified as Category A, depicting a 12-year-old girl being raped by an adult male.

Rodgers then requested a photograph of the man’s daughter and discussed the possibility of meeting her. The conversation revealed disturbing intentions, with Rodgers asking whether he would be alone with the girl and inquiring about the financial aspect of such an encounter, suggesting he would pay £200 for 'f*** and a blowjob.' When 'Andy' suggested leaving the matter for now, Rodgers proposed meeting 'halfway' in London, indicating a willingness to travel for the purpose of abuse.

Further incriminating exchanges included Rodgers asking about the girl’s availability and whether he could 'charge her out.' The conversation also involved explicit questions about the nature of the encounter and the financial arrangement. The officer eventually withdrew from the chat, and no meeting was arranged. However, the evidence of Rodgers’s intentions was clear.

On September 19, police executed a search warrant at Rodgers’s residence on Taunton Road, Huyton. During the search, officers recovered two mobile phones containing a total of 46 Category A, 30 Category B, and 28 Category C indecent images of children, along with two images depicting bestiality. Further investigation revealed that Rodgers had shared two additional Category A files, showing children being raped, within another Kik group called 'Young Girls,' with a user named 'Creepy Guy.'

When questioned by authorities, Rodgers largely remained silent, answering 'no comment' to most questions. He denied having any sexual interest in children and claimed that no sexual chats involving minors would be found on his devices. He also mentioned that he had previously conducted his own online investigations into paedophiles but refused to elaborate.

Rodgers, who has a prior conviction unrelated to this case, was re-interviewed in August but again chose to remain silent. Ultimately, he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including encouraging the rape of a child under 13, distributing and downloading indecent images, possessing such images, and possessing extreme pornography.

Judge Thomas Teague, QC, addressed the court, highlighting Rodgers’s explicit interest in sexual activity with a nine-year-old girl. The judge stated, 'To put it bluntly, you made it clear that you wished to rape her, both vaginally and orally.' He noted Rodgers’s willingness to pay £200 for such acts and his persistence in discussing these plans until the undercover officer ended the conversation.

While acknowledging Rodgers’s psychological vulnerabilities, including an 'adjustment disorder,' the judge emphasized that he did not appear to suffer from any mental illness. Recognizing that the girl in question did not exist, the judge reduced the sentence, noting that the planned offence could not have taken place. Nevertheless, Rodgers came very close to executing his intentions.

Consequently, Judge Teague sentenced Rodgers to four and a half years in prison. He also ordered Rodgers to sign the Sex Offenders Register and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years. The sentencing was met with emotional distress, as Rodgers’s wife, present in the courtroom, broke down in tears and sobbed loudly as her husband was led away to begin his sentence.