A paedophile who subjected a young Warrington boy to horrific sex abuse in the 80s and 90s has been jailed after a five-day trial.
Christopher Hindley, a married dad and former Scout leader from Braithwaite Road, Lowton, and previously of Pendle Gardens in Culcheth, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court to be sentenced on Monday, 21 July.
The 56-year-old was charged with 17 child sex offences for which he was tried before a jury for five days.
Hindley was convicted of the 17 offences, including indecent assault, gross indecency, and attempted buggary.
He was jailed for 12 years with an extended licence period of a year on his release.
He will serve two-thirds of the 12 years before his case is referred to the Parole Board to consider if he is safe to be released to serve the remainder of the sentence, plus an additional year, on licence.
Hindley must also sign the sex offender register for life on his release from custody.
The court heard that the abuse took place over a number of years in Warrington in the late 1980s and into the 1990s and was unrelated to his role as a Scout leader.
It was said that the defendant began by touching the young boy in a sexual manner, and that the victim was too young to appreciate that what was happening was wrong.
Hindley’s behaviour escalated to performing sex acts on the boy and inciting him to do the same in return.
DC Lauren Cunliffe said: “Hindley took advantage of the victim’s young age and manipulated him into thinking this behaviour was normal, taking away his innocence in the process.
“The effect on him has been long-lasting and he has struggled with his mental health over the years as a direct result of the abuse and the shame that he felt.
“Hindley put him through further anguish by pleading not guilty and making him go through the ordeal of a trial, which he bravely endured. Seeing his abuser being jailed for his crimes has given him hope for the future and I hope this new hope will help him tremendously in his recovery from the ordeal he has suffered.”
