US SUMMER CAMP PAEDOPHILE WESLEY MCKEOWN FROM RUNCORN SENTENCED TO PRISON

In June 2014, Wesley McKeown, a 28-year-old from Ivy Street, Runcorn, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being convicted of child sexual offences linked to his work at a summer camp in the United States. The case involved extensive cooperation between UK and US law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Cheshire Constabulary.

An FBI special agent, James Zajac, played a crucial role in the investigation by retrieving evidence from Google, Yahoo, and Facebook, which provided details of exchanges between McKeown and two boys, both approximately 13 years old. Warrington Crown Court heard that McKeown had demonstrated a depraved interest, requesting the boys to send nude photographs of themselves.

One victim complied and sent the images; in response, McKeown sent him pornographic photographs depicting adults engaged in sexual acts. The other boy rejected McKeown’s advances. The offending came to light after one boy’s mother discovered explicit emails on her son’s iPhone, which included a nude photo. She contacted McKeown and told him to seek help. McKeown responded by claiming he had been drunk and assured her he would not repeat his behaviour.

Not satisfied, she alerted authorities, and the case was escalated to the FBI. Following the evidence collected by Agent Zajac, the investigation was handed over to UK authorities. Cheshire Constabulary then arrested McKeown and seized two laptops from his possession.

Analysis of the computers revealed over 100 indecent images, ranging from the lowest to the most severe levels of illegal content, including images involving penetration. McKeown admitted to possessing and viewing such material. Specifically, 43 images fell into the second-worst category, involving penetration.

McKeown faced charges including 13 counts of possessing indecent images of children and four counts of causing or inciting boys to engage in sexual activity. Representing himself in court due to lack of legal aid, he claimed he was 'not a danger to society' and expressed remorse.

The judge, Recorder Stephen Driver, sentenced him to 10 months for each indecent image offence, to run concurrently, and 30 months for each count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, also concurrent. The offences stemmed from incidents several years prior.

In addition to prison, Judge Driver placed McKeown on the sex offenders register and imposed a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO). Addressing the court, he stated, "You are a man who is sexually attracted to children. Your computer contained 100 indecent images of children, about one-third of which depicted children engaging in penetrative sexual acts with adults. You searched for such material online, knowing exactly what you were looking for."

He further highlighted the risk posed by McKeown’s role at the US summer camp, noting, "The aggravating aspect is for seven years you were employed at a summer camp in the USA. You had a position of responsibility with a high level of trust."