PAUL CLIFFORD FROM LACHE JAILED IN CHESTER FOR ONLINE SEX CRIME INVOLVING CHILDREN

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Chester community, Paul Clifford, a resident of Lache, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of serious online sexual offenses involving a minor. The conviction was handed down at Manchester Crown Court last week following a comprehensive nine-day trial that examined the disturbing details of his actions.

Clifford, aged 53, was found guilty of inciting an 11-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity via the internet. The court also heard evidence of him creating and possessing numerous indecent images, some of which were classified as extreme pornography. As part of his sentence, Clifford was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which restricts his activities and contact, and he was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely, a measure designed to monitor and prevent further offenses.

The investigation into Clifford’s activities was initiated after concerns were raised by the social networking platform Badoo, which reported suspicious activity to the Metropolitan Police in London. The platform had identified a user, clearly under the age of 18, who had shared a photograph that indicated the user was only 11 years old. Upon reviewing the chat history associated with this account, authorities discovered explicit conversations in which the young girl explicitly stated her age as 11. These findings prompted Badoo to escalate the matter to the police, leading to a detailed investigation.

Cheshire police took over the case, and Clifford was arrested in June 2011. During the subsequent search, authorities seized multiple electronic devices, including computers, for forensic examination. The analysis revealed over 200 indecent images stored on two laptops, many of which were classified as extreme pornographic material, highlighting the severity of Clifford’s offenses.

Detective Constable Yvonne Ouseley commented on the case, emphasizing the importance of awareness among parents regarding their children’s online activities. She stated, “Although we never actually identified and spoke to the victim in this case, the evidence spoke for itself and it was clear that Clifford had preyed on the vulnerabilities of a young girl. I would want to use this case to reinforce the importance of parents being aware of their children’s use of social media and the internet as they can so easily become involved in conversations with people who will prey on their innocence.”