CHRISTOPHER SPENCER SENTENCED IN BURY FOR GROOMING AND ABUSE
A retail manager from Bury, Christopher Spencer, 41, has been sentenced to 39 months in prison after being convicted of sexual activity with a 14-year-old boy and supplying cannabis.Spencer had befriended the victim's family and bought him computer games, the court heard.
The court learned that the teenager, who had become more withdrawn following a family bereavement, was allowed to use Spencer's bank card to play video games.
Prosecutor Geoff Whelan explained that this relationship led to Spencer, who was 38 at the time, taking the boy on a camping trip.
He rented a glamping pod, and during one night while the boy was in bed, Spencer groped him under his clothing.
Despite this, the victim continued to go on trips with Spencer, always accompanied by a friend, who was also given cannabis by Spencer.
Spencer, of Shakespeare Avenue, Radcliffe, was convicted after a trial of sexual activity with a child.
He had previously admitted to two counts of supplying cannabis to the boys.
The victim later stated that the abuse negatively impacted his schooling and caused him to suffer from anxiety.
Defense lawyer Isobel Thomas acknowledged that Spencer had supplied alcohol and cannabis but disputed that these acts aimed to facilitate the sexual offences.
She explained that Spencer, who is employed as a store manager at the Trafford Centre, lives with his mother and brother, and that his income helped pay the mortgage on their family home.
She expressed concern that if Spencer were sent to custody, his family might face homelessness due to the loss of his income.
Judge John Potter described Spencer’s actions as grooming over a period of time, noting that he had taken the boy on trips and treated him as a means to manipulate him for sexual purposes.
The judge stated, "In my judgement you used this opportunity to groom him with a view to sexually abusing him." As part of the sentence, Spencer was ordered to be subject to a restraining order preventing any contact with the two boys.
He is also required to register as a sex offender for life.
