Three men who committed sexual offences against a 15-year-old schoolgirl girl have all been spared jail – after she was groomed online, lured into a van and footage was livestreamed of her being abused.
Michael Linfoot, 24, Callum Hesketh, 24, and Thomas Rae, 24, all of Chorley in Greater Manchester, were all convicted of offences in 2018 on Thursday.
According to police, the girl was originally messaged by Hesketh on social media in April 2018 and asked for a threesome, which she declined.
Over the next few weeks he continued to call and message her and persuaded her to pose in ‘different sexual positions’ while he masturbated.
Two months later on June 16, the victim and her friend got a lift with Hesketh and Linfoot, who were both 18 at the time, in Linfoot’s van and the pair drove them to Rivington in exchange for alcoholic drinks.
After the girl’s friend stepped outside to take a phone call, police say Hesketh began having sex with the victim while Linfoot orally raped her at the same time.
Shockingly Hesketh began recording the acts on his phone and livestreamed them on social media, commenting: ‘Gang bang out here.’
The victim told police she then heard Hesketh speaking on the phone before three more men arrived, and one, Rae, approached the van and orally raped her.
Callum Hesketh, 24, was convicted of sending sexualised social media messages to the victim and one count of making indecent videos of a child
Michael Linfoot, 24, was convicted of one count of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16
Thomas Rae, 24, was convicted of one count of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 in Rivington in 2018
The men then drove the two girls to Adlington and purchased them a bottle of wine.
At Liverpool Crown Court, Micahel Linfoot, Callum Hesketh, and Thomas Rae, all from Chorley, were each allowed to walk free from court after being given suspended sentences.
All three men pleaded guilty to sexual offences at a previous hearing.
Linfoot was convicted of one count of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 in Rivington in 2018. He has been sentenced to 11 months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
Rae was convicted of one count of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 in Rivington in 2018. He has been sentenced to 11 months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
Callum Hesketh was convicted of sending sexualised social media messages to the victim and one count of making indecent videos of a child in Rivington 2018. He was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
A police statement described the horror: ‘They drove to Rivington and parked the van where the victim’s friend received a phone call and stepped outside the vehicle.
‘Meanwhile, Hesketh began to have sex with the victim and Linfoot took his penis from his trousers and orally raped her at the same time.
The offences took place in Linfoot’s van (pictured) in Rivington, Greater Manchester
Hesketh livestreamed the abuse on Snapchat, captioning it ‘Gang bang out here’
‘While this was happening, Hesketh recorded the sex acts on his mobile phone and sent them out via a broadcast option on a social media platform with the caption, ‘Gang bang out here’.
‘The victim heard Hesketh talking on his mobile phone and a short while later three more men arrived on motorbikes.
‘One of the men, Thomas Rae, approached the van and removed his penis from his trousers and orally raped the victim.’
Detective Constable Robert Booth of Greater Manchester Police said: ‘Thanks to the bravery of the victim in coming forward and putting her trust in us, we were able to bring these men to justice.
‘It must have been very difficult for her to have to sit through interviews and come to terms with what these men subjected her to, but I hope today’s result gives her a sense of justice.
‘I would like to reach out to victims of rape and sexual abuse that have not yet come forward to let them know that we are here for you, we will support you and work with you at your own pace when you are ready, no matter the passage of time.
‘Finally, I would like to send a clear message to any perpetrators of sexual abuse; that we will not tolerate this abhorrent behaviour, and we will bring you to justice.’
