VINOTHAN ILVARASAN RAJENTHIRAM AND HIS BROTHER JAILED IN BIRKENHEAD FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Birkenhead, two brothers, Vinothan and Ilvarasan Rajenthiram, have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after being found guilty of a series of heinous child sexual offences. The brothers, who owned convenience stores in Birkenhead, Walton, and Garston, exploited their positions of trust to groom and abuse young girls over a period spanning more than five years.

Ilvarasan Rajenthiram, aged 26 and residing on Grove Road in Wallasey, was convicted of 15 counts of sexual activity with a child and three counts of sexual assault. His crimes date back to the summer of 2010, and he was sentenced to serve 22 and a half years in prison, which includes a four-year extended license period. The court heard that Ilvarasan used his influence and access to young girls to manipulate them into sexual acts, often after gaining their trust through seemingly innocent gestures such as offering sweets, mobile phone top-ups, and cigarettes.

Vinothan Rajenthiram, aged 27 and living on Billinge Road in Wigan, was found guilty of a different set of offences, including one count of rape, four counts of sexual activity with a child, and four counts of sexual assault. His offending began in the summer of 2011, and he was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with an additional four-year period on license. Both brothers were also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, reflecting the severity of their crimes.

The offences, which involved nine girls mostly aged between 14 and 16, occurred between 2010 and January 2016. During the trial, the jury learned how the brothers systematically groomed their victims, many of whom were regular customers at their convenience stores. They used modern communication platforms such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Facebook to establish contact and build relationships with the girls, often engaging in highly sexual comments and behaviors.

Judge Norman Wright delivered a stern verdict, condemning the brothers for abusing their positions of authority and trust. He stated, “You both abused your position in the shops to target teenage girls. You groomed them systematically, finding out their names, obtaining their mobile numbers, and using social media to manipulate them.” The judge detailed how the brothers befriended the girls, offering them free sweets, mobile top-ups, and cigarettes to gain their confidence. Once trust was established, they would invite the girls for drives, listen to music together, or simply relax, before ultimately taking them to unoccupied flats where alcohol was supplied to disinhibit them further.

Judge Wright emphasized that alcohol served as a catalyst, making the victims more compliant and disoriented, facilitating the sexual abuse. “It was all about your sexual gratification, not friendship or companionship,” he remarked. The court heard that the victims were naive and impressionable, often impressed by the attention from older men who drove luxury cars such as BMWs and Audis to transport them to the flats above the shops for abuse.

Both men, who are of Sri Lankan descent, denied all allegations during the trial. The court also heard that Vinothan’s victim was one of the girls also abused by his brother. In a particularly troubling incident, a 15-year-old girl complained to her mother about Vinothan’s inappropriate behavior, including grabbing her breasts and making lewd comments. When her brother confronted Vinothan, he was met with laughter, and on another occasion, a youth club worker who visited the girl was also met with dismissive laughter from Vinothan.

Judge Wright concluded by condemning the brothers’ actions, highlighting the calculated and predatory nature of their crimes. The sentences handed down reflect the gravity of their offences and serve as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable young people from exploitation and abuse in the community of Birkenhead.