WIDNES MAN CHRISTOPHER WALSH AVOIDS JAIL TIME AFTER SEX WITH 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In May 2009, a 20-year-old man from Widnes named Christopher Walsh narrowly avoided imprisonment after engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl. The incident occurred during June or July of the previous year, when both parties were intoxicated, Warrington Crown Court was told. Walsh believed the girl was between 15 and 16 years old at the time, only learning the truth later when she became pregnant. It has since been confirmed that she is now 14 and has recently given birth, although it remains unclear if Walsh is the father.

The girl was six months pregnant when she reported Walsh, who admitted to having sex with a child under 16 in April. Walsh stated that the encounter happened once and was consensual. Addressing his guilty plea, Judge Thomas Teague indicated a non-custodial sentence was likely.

During Monday’s hearing, Judge Stephen Clarke noted that the typical starting point upon trial would be four years in prison, but was constrained by Judge Teague's earlier comments. He explained, “This was an isolated act of intercourse between two willing parties, neither of whom had taken any protection.” He added, “The only problem is that you're 20 and the girl in question was 13. The sad fact is that it is not much of a start in life for a child with a 14-year-old mother.”

Walsh was sentenced to a 12-month supervision order and was required to register as a sex offender for five years. However, he was not disqualified from working with children. Judge Clarke concluded, “I hope that you have learned a very serious lesson, and clearly, in future, you will not involve yourself in sexual activities with anyone whose age you do not know.”