December 2012 Man jailed for raping child under age of 13 A NORTHWICH man has been jailed for raping a girl under the age of 13. Jason Walton, of Parkfield Road, was jailed for 14 years and ordered to sign on to the sex offenders register for life when he appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday, November 26. The 29-year-old was found guilty of two child sex offences, which took place in July 2012. These were rape and attempted rape of a child under 13. The investigation began when the victim’s mother reported the offences to police. DC Sophia Rees, of the Western Public Protection Unit, said: “The nature of this man’s crimes cannot be underestimated. “He preyed on a vulnerable young child who will live with this for the rest of her life. “It was incredibly brave of her to come forward. “Thanks to the dedication of officers involved, in an enquiry that involved the feelings and emotions of a vulnerable young child, the evidence was progressed to the point of trial. “Rape and sexual assaults are amongst the most traumatic of crimes. “We want victims to be assured that we are here to help. “Anyone who has been subjected to this type of crime should feel confident that they will receive the support they need from the police and other support agencies we work alongside. “Foremost, any victim of a crime such as this will be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated and with the needs of the victim as our main priority.” Walton, who was found guilty after a Crown Court trial, was also banned from working with children and given an indefinite sexual offences prevention order.