KEVIN SEDGWICK FROM MANCHESTER AND WIGAN JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN AND STALKING CORONATION STREET STARS

In a significant case that has shocked the local communities of Manchester and Wigan, Kevin Sedgwick, aged 42, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison following his conviction on multiple serious charges related to the sexual abuse of minors. Sedgwick, a resident of Wigan, appeared before Bolton Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to a total of seven counts of gross indecency involving two young girls and a boy, all under the age of 14. In addition to these charges, he admitted to six counts of taking and developing indecent photographs of the children, further highlighting the severity of his offenses.

His arrest and subsequent court appearance came after a series of disturbing incidents that linked him to the harassment and stalking of well-known Coronation Street actresses. Sedgwick, who is a bachelor and reportedly had a fixation with actress Tracy Shaw, was ordered to stay away from Granada Studios and the actresses Tracey Shaw, Jacqueline Pirie, and Jennifer James for a period of five years. This restriction was imposed after Sedgwick admitted to harassing Miss Shaw over a span of five years, a pattern of behavior that caused considerable concern among the show's cast and crew.

Details of the police investigation reveal that when Sedgwick was detained on August 3 for his harassment of Miss Shaw, authorities discovered a collection of camcorder and videotapes in his flat. Prosecutor Ann Hughes described the contents of these recordings, stating that they depicted Sedgwick encouraging children to engage in inappropriate games, such as sitting on his groin area and jiggling up and down. Although the children were fully clothed during these acts, the court was told that Sedgwick was deriving sexual gratification from the situation. Furthermore, he was found to have used a camcorder to record a young girl bending over a stool, adding to the evidence of his predatory behavior.

It was also revealed that Sedgwick had a criminal history, with previous convictions for indecent assault on a child in 1977 and 1989. His past offenses, combined with the recent charges, paint a disturbing picture of a man with a long history of sexual misconduct against minors.

During the court proceedings, Sedgwick appeared visibly distressed, sobbing throughout the hour-long hearing. His defense attorney, Patrick Heald, argued that Sedgwick suffered from 'significant learning difficulties,' which may have impacted his behavior. Despite this plea, the magistrates remanded him into custody and referred the case to Bolton Crown Court for sentencing, scheduled for October 10. The court's decision underscores the gravity of Sedgwick's crimes and the ongoing concern for the safety of children and the integrity of public figures targeted by his stalking and harassment.