WHITEHAVEN MAN LIAM BROATCH SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL GROOMING OF TEENAGE GIRL IN CARLISLE

In August 2013, a disturbing case of online grooming and sexual misconduct came to light involving Liam Broatch, a resident of Whitehaven. Broatch, then aged 23, used a false online identity to establish a connection with a 15-year-old girl on Facebook. Under the pseudonym Darren Waddington, he managed to befriend the young girl, who was still in her early teens, and gain her trust over a period of time.

The Carlisle Crown Court heard that after initially communicating with her under the false identity, Broatch revealed his true name and fabricated a story claiming that another man was spreading malicious rumours about her sexual conduct. This lie appeared to serve as a pretext to deepen their communication, and the girl, believing Broatch had done her a favor, began to see him as a confidant and friend. Their conversations on Facebook and through text messages remained seemingly innocent at first, but the tone gradually shifted.

Broatch then suggested they meet in person, claiming it would give her a chance to escape her home environment. The girl agreed, and Broatch started taking her for rides in his car, which marked the beginning of their in-person interactions. As their meetings continued, Broatch, who was living in Kells, Whitehaven at the time, began to express dissatisfaction with his long-term girlfriend. He started texting her daily, expressing a desire to engage in sexual activities, which she interpreted as a sexual proposition.

According to prosecutor Gerard Rogerson, the girl went along with these advances out of fear of losing her new friend and feeling isolated. The situation escalated during a visit to Broatch’s mother’s bungalow, where he began to touch her leg inappropriately. The situation quickly worsened when Broatch sexually molested her, and in a shocking turn, he pulled her on top of him and engaged in sexual intercourse with her while she was reportedly frozen in shock.

The girl eventually confided in her teacher, who then alerted her parents and the police. Broatch was arrested and charged with sexual grooming and engaging in sexual activity with a child. During the court proceedings, Broatch, now 25 and residing in Kells, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to the charges.

Judge Paul Batty QC, presiding over the case, emphasized that Broatch’s use of a false identity was a significant aggravating factor, highlighting his manipulative and deceitful tactics. The judge acknowledged that while Broatch’s actions did not constitute rape, the girl was nonetheless pressured and coerced due to her vulnerable position at his house. The court noted that Broatch had no previous criminal record, but he was sentenced to be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. Additionally, he was banned from having unsupervised contact with any girl under the age of 16 for the next ten years, except for members of his own family, reflecting the seriousness of his misconduct and the need for ongoing supervision.