Serial rapist’s brother sent sick messages to underage girl
‘YOU KNEW SHE WAS VULNERABLE – AND YET YOU PREYED UPON THAT’
THE younger brother of a serial rapist serving life in prison sent sick sexual messages to a child he groomed.
James Downworth, 32, was arrested after swapping vile and explicit messages with the girl, a court heard.
Police were called after the girl turned up unexpectedly at the home of a family member, who noticed Downworth outside.
He initially claimed he thought the girl was older, but later admitted knowing she was underage.
Downworth, from Denton, Tameside, admitted inciting an underage girl to engage in sexual activity at Minshull Street crown Court.
He was told to enrol on a sex offender treatment programme as part of a 16-month jail term, suspended for two years.
Downworth was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.
In 2013, Downworth’s older brother, Adam, now 38, was ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years in jail after he was convicted of attacks on five women.
He used combat techniques he studied in martial arts books to overpower them as they walked home late at night.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Lawton told James Downworth: “It is quite remarkable, given you have a brother who is serving a substantial sentence for serious sexual offences, that you did not learn from that emotional and psychological damage to your family. “Count yourself fortunate that you are not going straight into custody.” He added: “You knew this girl was extremely vulnerable – and yet you preyed upon that vulnerability. “She believed she was in a relationship with you. That may have been down to her age, but girls deserve the full protection of the law from those who might prey upon them – i.e. the likes of you.” The court heard the investigation began after Downworth met the girl on up to three occasions. Details of some of the explicit messages were read to the court. The content is too disturbing to be published.
“There were other message exchanges of a sexual nature,” Justin Hayhoe, prosecuting, said.
He added: “He accepted sending messages, but said there was no ulterior motive.
“It was simply flirting, but he didn’t accept what he was doing was wrong. He accepted meeting on two or three occasions.”
The court heard Downworth was of previous good character.
Defence lawyer Denise Fitzpatrick said: “Although he did meet with her, no sexual activity took place thereafter.”