SERIAL RUGBY CHILD RAPIST RELEASED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AFTER DRUG DEALING AND WEAPONS OFFENCES
In 2013, Reece Checkley, a young man from Rugby, engaged in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl and narrowly avoided immediate jail despite being on bail for a prior offence involving another minor.He denied the allegations, claiming the girl told him she was attending college at the time.
However, Warwick Crown Court did not accept his explanation and convicted him of two counts of sexual activity with the girl at his home in October 2013.
After a pre-sentence report was prepared, Checkley, aged 22 and residing on Wentworth Road, Rugby, was given a two-year prison sentence that was suspended for 18 months.
This sentence ran alongside a three-year community order from April of the previous year, which was for inciting a 14-year-old girl to participate in sexual acts.
During the trial, prosecutor Siobhan Collins emphasized that Checkley, who was free on bail during the incident involving the 13-year-old, had sexual relations with her at his residence in October 2013.
The case was uncovered after he boasted to a friend that he “popped her cherry,” prompting the friend to inform the girl’s father.
When questioned, the girl admitted to the act, and Checkley was arrested.
He responded with a “no comment” when asked about the incident and her age.
Although he was cleared of another charge involving a sexual act with a 14-year-old, the court found him guilty of encouraging her to perform further sexual acts through text messages, once her mother confirmed her age.
Checkley was ordered to participate in a sex offenders' programme as part of his community sentence.
During the recent trial, he explained that his silence during police interviews was due to fear upon discovering the girl’s age, and he falsely claimed he had never met her.
He stated, “I was scared of people knowing I’d slept with another young girl.
It’s such a coincidence I thought no jury’s going to believe me.” Prosecutor Tim Harrington noted that the girl aged 13 described feelings of embarrassment and shame, with her family feeling deeply affected.
Her mother expressed concern over her daughter's lost innocence.
Defense lawyer Andrew Tucker argued that Checkley’s behaviour had improved markedly since the incident and that he had not committed further offences.
He suggested that Checkley should continue with the sex offenders’ programme, in which he was making good progress.
Judge Stephen Linehan QC remarked that although the offence occurred in October 2013, Checkley was not informed of charges until a year later.
Tucker added that earlier charges might have resulted in combined sentencing for both cases.
Looking directly at Checkley, the judge said, “You knew her age, and you knew it was criminal because you were awaiting trial for a similar offence.
Your actions could have ruined her life, driven by selfish motives.
Your conduct was so serious that only imprisonment was justified.
The delay in sentencing is why I am suspending the prison term rather than imposing immediate custody.”
