CAMBRIDGE MAN MICHAEL ALDERTON JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND IMAGE OFFENCES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Cambridge, Michael Alderton, aged 28, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison following a series of serious criminal acts involving a young girl. The offences came to light after the victim's mother uncovered disturbing online conversations and discovered evidence of abuse, leading to a police investigation that revealed further disturbing material on Alderton's computer.

The incident took place during a party in Cambridge on the night of May 23 and 24 of the previous year, a period when the victim had just celebrated her 14th birthday. According to court reports, Alderton, who resided on Crowland Way in Cambridge, assaulted the girl at this gathering after she had been drinking. The assault was not an isolated event; it involved multiple breaches of trust and serious misconduct.

Prosecutor Ann Evans detailed the sequence of events, stating that Alderton twice intruded upon the girl while she was in the bathroom. On the second occasion, he forcibly pushed her to the ground and positioned himself on top of her. The girl, feeling unwell and overwhelmed, turned her head away when he attempted to kiss her. The court heard that nothing further happened until around 3 a.m., when most of the other guests had already left. It was then that Alderton sexually assaulted the girl again, this time on a sofa in the same location. The victim was described as feeling extremely sick and scared, desperately wanting him to stop his actions.

Further evidence emerged when, two months later, the girl’s mother discovered a Facebook conversation between her daughter and Alderton. In this exchange, Alderton explicitly stated, “I will kiss you again if you want to,” revealing his inappropriate intentions and ongoing contact with the young girl. This online communication played a crucial role in the subsequent police investigation.

When authorities raided Alderton’s residence, they seized his computer and found a disturbing collection of indecent images. The police report confirmed the presence of 118 images depicting girls aged between 12 and 14, all classified at the lowest level of seriousness. Additionally, four videos at the same level of severity were recovered, along with one more that was slightly more serious. These findings underscored the extent of Alderton’s involvement in the possession of illegal material.

During the court proceedings, Alderton admitted to three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, six charges of creating indecent images, and two counts of possessing such images. His defense lawyer, Liam Walker, described his client as a “relatively immature young man” who had committed these acts in an isolated and ill-judged incident. Despite this characterization, the court emphasized the gravity of his actions and the harm caused.

As part of his sentence, Alderton is required to sign the sex offenders register for life. Furthermore, he is prohibited from communicating with girls under the age of 16 via the internet or text messaging for a period of five years. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online misconduct and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable young individuals in the community of Cambridge.