MICHAEL COSTAR SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN BELFAST AND NORTHERN IRELAND

A man convicted of heinous child sexual offenses has been sentenced to prison after a lengthy investigation that uncovered a disturbing pattern of grooming and abuse involving a young girl from Belfast. Michael Costar, aged 52 and originally from Blackburn in Lancashire, was found guilty of multiple sexual offenses committed over several years, with the abuse taking place in Northern Ireland.

According to court proceedings, the abuse began after Costar first established contact with the 13-year-old girl via a social media platform in 2009. Over the course of three years, he maintained a disturbing online relationship with her, grooming her and manipulating her emotionally. The grooming process culminated in Costar traveling from Lancashire to Belfast, where he met the girl in a hotel. It was during this meeting that he committed the sexual abuse, which was later uncovered during police investigations.

The prosecution presented evidence that detailed how Costar repeatedly contacted the girl through the Tagged social network, making multiple trips to Belfast specifically to see her. He even visited her school and her home, actions that caused significant distress and fear for the young victim. During these encounters, he took indecent images and videos of her, some of which depicted abuse. The disturbing nature of his actions was further revealed when authorities found digital images of the girl on his devices during his arrest in March 2023.

The court heard that the grooming and abuse had a profound impact on the victim’s life. In a heartfelt statement read out in court, she described her emotional turmoil and the lasting scars left by Costar’s actions. She explained how she felt compelled to lie to her parents, siblings, and friends because she believed she had no choice but to meet his demands. She recounted how Costar traveled from England to Northern Ireland specifically to see her and how he refused to accept her refusal, making her feel trapped and powerless. Her statement highlighted the long-term effects on her education, as Costar knew her school and would meet her after classes, causing her to miss vital study time.

The abuse continued until she turned 16, but the court was told that Costar attempted to re-establish contact with her on another online forum after that. Following his arrest, he admitted to showing images of the girl to friends, further demonstrating his manipulative and predatory behavior. Judge Patrick Lynch KC emphasized that Costar’s actions were aggravated by his planning, premeditation, and the calculated manipulation of a vulnerable young girl. The judge also noted that Costar recorded the abuse, adding a layer of cruelty to his crimes.

As part of his sentence, Costar was handed four years in prison, with an additional four years on licence upon release. The court also imposed a seven-year sexual offences prevention order, restricting his contact with minors, and mandated that he remain on the sexual offenders' register indefinitely. The case underscores the ongoing dangers posed by online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting children from predators like Michael Costar, whose crimes have left a lasting impact on his young victim from Belfast and the wider community in Northern Ireland.