CRAIG BONIFACE FROM BEBINGTON SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEENAGE GIRL IN WIRRAL

In November 2016, a disturbing case unfolded involving Craig Boniface, a resident of Bebington, Wirral, who was convicted of heinous crimes against a teenage girl. The incident came to light after Boniface, a father of two, exploited the girl’s trust and vulnerability following the discovery of her naked Snapchat photographs.

According to court proceedings, Boniface found the intimate images on the girl’s mobile device, made copies of them, and subsequently used these photographs as tools of manipulation and coercion. His actions were driven by a twisted sexual obsession, which he pursued under the guise of private fantasies.

The Liverpool Crown Court heard that Boniface was a house husband, with his wife frequently away on business trips for a hotel chain. During her absences, Boniface orchestrated what he called “Frosty nights,” a term he used to describe evenings spent with the girl, named after the Frosty Jack’s cider he supplied her before subjecting her to abuse.

Despite denying any wrongdoing, Boniface, aged 45 and residing on Bickerton Avenue in Bebington, was found guilty after a trial. The court’s verdict was based on what was described as “the clearest possible evidence,” and Boniface displayed no remorse, sighing loudly in the dock as the judge detailed the conviction.

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, sentenced Boniface to five years in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the severity of the defendant’s misconduct, stating, “It’s clear you developed an unhealthy interest in her, to the point of becoming infatuated with her. You nurtured an alternative fantasy life where she became the object of your sexually driven obsession.”

The court revealed that Boniface used the photographs to blackmail the girl into performing certain acts or behaving in ways that fed his obsession. He purchased revealing clothing for her to wear and demanded she parade in these outfits for his viewing. Additionally, he got her intoxicated and engaged in inappropriate physical contact.

The judge further explained that Boniface called these nights his “Frosty nights,” referencing the cider he drank during these episodes, which he considered part of his fantasy. He also booked hotel rooms under false pretenses, lying to his wife about his whereabouts, and manipulated the girl into dressing up and applying makeup to appear older.

The defendant took her to bars where alcohol was purchased, and during these outings, he sexually touched her. The judge noted that more serious acts could have occurred, but the girl was too intoxicated to resist or speak out.

Prosecutor Sarah Holt highlighted the lasting impact on the victim, who now suffers from nightmares and flashbacks. The girl expressed feelings of dirtiness and guilt, stating, “I feel dirty and sick and sometimes feel it was all my fault for letting him do what he did to me. I find it hard to trust anyone.”

The victim’s mother described the emotional toll of Boniface’s abuse as “heartbreaking,” revealing that her daughter’s GCSE results had been “severely affected.” She expressed her desire for justice, saying, “I would like to see him punished for what he has done. I hope he realises all the pain and suffering he has caused.”

Boniface was convicted on three counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of making indecent images of children. The court ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring.