Paedophile, 68, groomed girl for sex assault
AN EX-TEACHER and convicted sex offender has admitted sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl after grooming her.
Christopher Wayne Booth was further remanded in custody yesterday and was warned that he faced a significant and possibly extended prison sentence.
Judge Rhys Rowlands ordered a full pre-sentence report on him so that his future risk can be assessed.
He warned Booth, 68, that the present offences – made in breach of a sexual harm prevention order imposed in 2015 – were very serious.
The former Groves School, Wrexham, teacher has been jailed three times previously for downloading indecent images of children offences and harassing a young girl – in 2015, 2006 and 2004.
He lost his job at Groves in 2003.
He appeared at Mold Crown Court yesterday via a live television link from Altcourse Prison in Liverpool.
He was charged that between November last year and January 21 this year he made contact with a child, a girl aged 14, which he was prohibited from doing under a sexual harm prevention order made at Mold Crown Court in May 2015.
He was charged with grooming – meeting a child on at least two occasions following a period of grooming intending to commit a sexual offence – and going on to sexually assault the child.
Booth admitted all three charges and the prosecution then dropped a final charge which alleged that between November 15 last year and January 20 this year he had a computer without the written permission of the Chief Constable of North Wales Police, something he was prohibited from doing under the 2015 order.
Booth, of Pottery House Cottage, Alltami Road, Alltami, was remanded in custody pending sentence next month.
Judge Rowlands said: “I will need a full pre-sentence report as to risk in this case.”
Booth had pleaded guilty, which was very important and which would be reflected in a reduction in sentence, he said.
But the offences he had admitted were very serious – the more so when his history of offending and breaching sexual harm prevention orders was considered.
“The court will have to look at the risk you pose to young children,” the judge told him.
“You must be prepared for a fairly significant sentence.”
Booth had been on licence at the time, said Judge Rowlands.
He needed to be prepared for an extended sentence.
Prosecuting barrister Simon Rogers said that a victim impact statement would be produced for the next hearing.
Defending barrister John Hedgecoe said that his client would not be taken by surprise by the judge’s comments in view of his previous convictions.
He was aware of the prospect of an extended sentence.
Booth was remanded in custody in the meantime.
The sexual harm prevention order, issued in 2015, was made for his lifetime and he was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for life.
Three years ago a danger assessment was carried out and the court was told that he was not regarded as dangerous at that stage.