MICHAEL FLORL FROM BLACON SENTENCED FOR SEVEN YEARS OVER HISTORIC CHILD SEX ABUSE CASE IN CHESTER

In a case that has shocked the local community of Blacon and the wider Chester area, Michael Florl, aged 62, has been sentenced to seven years in prison following his conviction for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young boy during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Florl, who resides on Stratford Road in Blacon, appeared before Chester Crown Court where he pleaded guilty in December to 12 counts of indecent assault involving a minor. Despite his guilty plea, he maintained his innocence on 13 additional counts, which the court has decided to leave on file, meaning they will not be prosecuted further but remain part of the case record.

The court heard harrowing details of how Florl systematically groomed his young victim, a boy who was between 11 and 15 years old at the time. The grooming process began when Florl befriended the boy after visiting the local football grounds where the boy played. Over time, Florl also ingratiated himself with the boy’s parents, gaining their trust and permission to take the child to various outings, including football matches, badminton games, and visits to Florl’s sister’s house. It was at this house that the first sexual assault occurred.

Prosecutor Debra White outlined the disturbing pattern of abuse, emphasizing that Florl exploited his position of trust. She revealed that the boy’s parents had once authorized Florl to take their son to Paris to watch the European Cup Final, but instead, the boy was sexually abused in a hotel during that trip. The abuse was reported to have taken place between 40 and 50 times over several years, with incidents occurring at Florl’s sister’s house, inside Florl’s car, and at his own residence. The most severe abuse reportedly happened at Florl’s home.

White explained that Florl used threats and intimidation to maintain control over the boy. If the victim resisted or tried to avoid Florl, he was met with physical threats or threats to reveal the abuse to his parents. On one occasion, Florl even waited outside the boy’s school to confront him. The court also heard that Florl, who managed a football team at a care home, once took the boy to meet staff at the care facility, where the victim felt like he was being displayed or “like he was being shown off.”

Further disturbing details emerged about Florl’s conduct during a football tournament in Paris, where he shared a room with the boy and his team. As the boy grew older, he became increasingly aware that Florl’s actions were wrong and attempted to distance himself. However, Florl continued to threaten him, insisting that their encounters were “their little secret.”

The abuse ceased when the boy turned 16 and started working at a local shop. An incident during a lunch break, where Florl came to see him and an argument ensued resulting in Florl punching the boy in the face, marked the end of their contact. Although no police complaint was made at that time, the victim’s trauma persisted.

The victim came forward publicly in August of the previous year, seeking closure and justice. White highlighted the profound impact the abuse had on his life, including nightmares, flashbacks, and difficulty forming close relationships. The victim expressed hope that this legal process would help him find some measure of peace.

During the hearing, Florl’s defense attorney, Adrian Evans, acknowledged that Florl was aware of the likelihood of a lengthy prison sentence. Evans explained that Florl’s own troubled childhood, marked by physical abuse from his father and sexual abuse by another adult, contributed to his confusing sexuality and subsequent targeting of the young boy. He also noted that Florl had no prior convictions and appeared to have no other victims.

Judge Elgan Edwards, the Recorder of Chester, delivered the sentence, emphasizing the gravity of Florl’s breaches of trust. Due to the case’s historical nature, the sentencing was carried out under the 1960 Indecency with Children Act, which capped the maximum sentence at 10 years—less than the 19-year maximum under the current Sexual Offences Act of 2003. Florl was given full credit for his early guilty pleas and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Judge Edwards condemned Florl’s actions, stating, “What you did to that 11-year-old boy, and when he was 12, and 13, and 14, and 15 was disgraceful. You abused the trust of his parents. They thought you were his friend when in fact you were his sexual predator. It went on time after time for around four years. Not only was there a breach of trust but you threatened him and generally treated him as a plaything. This will not be tolerated and it has to be met with a serious sentence.”