PAUL PAGET FROM PRESCOT JAILED FOR SIX YEARS OVER HISTORIC SEX OFFENCES IN LIVERPOOL

In a case that has drawn significant attention, Paul Gary Paget, a resident of Church Street in Prescot, was convicted of serious historic sexual offences at Liverpool Crown Court. The charges stemmed from allegations of gross indecency with a child, offences that reportedly took place nearly thirty years ago. The court proceedings culminated in a sentencing that saw Paget handed a six-year prison term on Friday, October 26.

During the sentencing hearing, the presiding judge remarked that a longer sentence could have been justified if the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had pursued more severe charges against Paget. This statement has sparked discussions about the adequacy of the charges brought forward and the CPS’s decision-making process in such sensitive cases.

Bernard Byrne, representing the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit of the Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service, addressed the media to clarify the CPS’s stance. Byrne explained that the evidence file in this case was meticulously examined by the CPS and was under continuous review throughout the prosecution process. He emphasized that the decision to charge an individual hinges on strict legal criteria outlined in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

“When determining whether to bring charges and what those charges should be, prosecutors must be certain that both tests of the Code are satisfied,” Byrne stated. “This involves ensuring that pursuing the case is in the public interest and that there is sufficient evidence to reasonably expect a conviction. The reviewing lawyer must also consider potential defenses and how they might impact the likelihood of securing a conviction.”

He further explained that, based on the evidence available, the CPS concluded that the most appropriate charge aligned with Section 1 of the Indecency with Children Act 1960. Consequently, Paget was formally charged, indicted, found guilty, and ultimately sentenced to six years in prison for his offences.

The case has also attracted comments from HHJ Watson QC, who acknowledged the proceedings and the sentence handed down. The case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to address historic sexual offences and the complexities involved in prosecuting such cases decades after the alleged crimes occurred.