PAUL MCCANN FROM WIDNES AND RUNCORN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a case that has shocked the communities of Widnes and Runcorn, Paul McCann, a 31-year-old man, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 12 years after being convicted of multiple serious child sex offences. The conviction was handed down at Warrington Crown Court following a comprehensive seven-day trial that uncovered disturbing details about McCann’s criminal behavior.

McCann faced a series of charges, including two counts of raping a child under the age of 13, twelve counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl under 13, and one count of possessing an indecent image of a minor. The court heard that McCann, who worked as a security guard at a Global Union warehouse in Runcorn for a decade, had exploited his position and used various methods to contact and manipulate his young victims.

During the trial, evidence revealed that McCann had utilized social networking platforms such as Facebook, Ping, and Skype to maintain communication with the children he targeted. It was also disclosed that he had given a black Nokia smartphone to his mother, which was alleged to contain an indecent image of a minor. Witnesses, including his stepfather and mother, testified that McCann spent most of his free time at their residence, further implicating him in the abuse.

The investigation into McCann’s activities was described as complex and challenging, spanning over 16 months. Detective Constable Tim Murray, who led the case, stated, “This has been a very difficult and complex investigation involving vulnerable victims and witnesses. Paul McCann was calculating and controlling in preying on the child victims over a five-year period. He used different methods to instigate and maintain contact with them, including his mobile phone and social media websites.”

DC Murray emphasized the importance of the victims’ and witnesses’ cooperation, which led to McCann’s conviction. He added, “Thanks to their willingness to come forward, McCann has been rightly convicted of these serious offences. Following his sentence, he will be further managed on the Sex Offender Register for the rest of his life to help protect children from further harm.”