MICHAEL BOOTH FROM ROCHDALE AND BOLTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN BOLTON

In April 2009, a disturbing case of child abuse involving a volunteer from St John Ambulance in Bolton came to light, resulting in a significant legal consequence for the offender. Michael Booth, aged 22 and residing in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to eight months in prison after admitting to multiple serious charges related to the sexual exploitation of young girls.

Booth's position as a youth leader within the organization granted him what the court described as 'unfettered access' to vulnerable children, which he exploited for his own illicit purposes. The court heard that he targeted young girls, some as young as 14, grooming them through online communication before engaging in inappropriate and unlawful sexual conduct.

The court was informed that Booth had met the victims in person after grooming them online. Among the victims was a 14-year-old girl who reported to police that she had been sexually abused in 2007. The other two victims were aged 14 and 15, respectively. The jury was told that Booth's actions included attempting to engage in sexual acts with two of the girls and sexually abusing one girl.

Prosecutor Tom Fitzpatrick emphasized to the court that Booth's conduct demonstrated a clear progression from grooming to engaging in unlawful sexual activity, highlighting the breach of trust inherent in his role as a youth leader. The court was also informed that Booth had taken indecent photographs of a child and possessed a total of 19 such images, further illustrating the severity of his misconduct.

Judge William Morris described the offences as extremely serious, stating, 'These offences are so serious that I can only now pass an immediate custodial sentence in regard to them.' Booth pleaded guilty to six charges, including two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of taking an indecent photograph of a child, and possession of indecent images.

As part of his sentence, Booth was ordered to serve eight months in prison. Additionally, he was mandated to sign the sex offenders register for a period of ten years, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the potential risk posed to the community.