Description A SICKENING child rapist told a girl as young as ten that if she didn’t perform sexual actions for him “Father Christmas wouldn’t come.” Lee Brown, 21, was sentenced on May 3 for eight counts of sexual misconduct relating to his sexual abuse of a pair of girls aged ten and eight at the time of his offending. Brown, of Freshwater Close, Great Sankey, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court, with crying family in the dock watching as his horrifying actions were laid out. Olivia Beesley, prosecuting, told the court how Brown, who was 15 at the time of his offending, committed “systematic, persistent, and regular abuse over the course of a year.” In the case of both victims, Brown began his abuse by pulling down his pants, and asking them to touch his penis. Over the course of a year he did this repeatedly, as well as encouraging them to put their mouth on his penis. He also taught them how to masturbate, and told them to do it in front him. His abuse was singular, only abusing one of the girls at a time. He did, however, abuse both for almost a year. The victim who was ten at the time of the offence at one point resisted his requests. When she did this, he informed her that if she didn’t do it “Father Christmas wouldn’t come.” The victim who was eight at the time of the offence, repeatedly told Brown ‘no’ when he made requests of her, but was pressured by the 15 year old child rapist. In a victim personal statement, both expressed a desire to see Brown face proper consequences for what he did to them. One victim said: “I feel I have to live with this weight on my shoulders.” Another said: “I trusted him. All I want is for people to believe me.” The abuse was disclosed in October of 2021, with interviews taking place with the victims in November of 2021. Brown was interviewed the following month, where he admitted to the abuse which led to the eight counts to which he later pled guilty. As well as this, he admitted to further crimes, including that this had started in reality when he was 11, and the girls were four and six. Ms. Beesley told the court how the situation had caused ‘severe psychological harm’ to the victims. Defending Brown, Simran Garcha told the court that he was ‘ashamed and contrite’ regarding his crimes. In a discussion surrounding his actions and culpability, Ms. Garcha made the argument that Brown’s actions were impulsive and in part due to his ADHD diagnosis. Judge Recorder Michael Maher, agreed in part with this argument, but did state: “There is some cunning and some guile in convincing the girl to do what he wanted them to do.” He went on to comment specifically on the malicious nature of using the victim’s immaturity to pressure her to commit sexual acts with threat of ‘Father Christmas’ not coming. Ms. Garcha went on to expand on the influence she believed Brown’s undiagnosed ADHD had on his offending, saying he was two years behind where he should be emotionally, and that: “At the time his actions felt almost normal.” Judge Recorder Maher went on to summarise the case, telling Brown: “You exploited them, and you abused them.” “You exploited the emotional connection you had with these girls. I note the way you manipulated your victim.” He went on to further note the “unpleasant effect it has had on them.” However, he expanded saying: “I have to consider your maturity, and your mental function.” Judge Maher went on to say that, if Brown had been an adult at the time of his offence, and he had pled not guilty, he would have received 14 years in prison. This was reduced greatly, however, due to his early guilty plea, and the fact he was a minor at the time of his offences. The rapist was in total sentenced to four years and four months, 2/3 of which he must serve in prison. All eight charges will be served concurrently, ranging from 18 to 52 months. As well as this, he faces a sexual harm prevention order of ten years, as well as a restraining order of ten years from contacting the victims.