Crewe man jailed for grooming and sexually abusing teenager

A man who groomed and sexually abused a vulnerable teenage girl in Crewe has been jailed.

Richard Wiseman appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 21st November where he was sentenced to six years in prison.

He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The 38-year-old, of no fixed abode in the Crewe area, had earlier pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual communication with a child.

The case began when police were made aware that a teenage girl had reported being groomed by Wiseman.

Officers spoke to the victim who disclosed that Wiseman had been sexually abusing her over a seven-month period.

Wiseman was swiftly arrested but denied all offences put to him during interview. However, following telecoms enquiries, officers recovered evidence from his mobile phone that showed he had sent multiple inappropriate messages to the victim. He would also talk to her in code while referring to sexual acts to avoid detection.

Officers confronted Wiseman with the messages evidencing the abuse, and he answered no comment to all further questions.

After gathering a catalogue of evidence, Wiseman was subsequently charged with sexually abusing the teenager.

Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Sophie Bailey, who led the investigation, said: 

“To discover that your child has been groomed is every parent’s worst nightmare, and I hope that the sentence handed to Wiseman will provide the victim’s family with some closure.

“Wiseman was well aware that his victim was underage, and as a 38-year-old man he knew what he was doing was wrong, but despite this he continued with his deceitful and harmful actions.

“He was able to convince his victim that the abuse he was inflicting was normal, but in reality, he was just a sexual predator who was only interested in fulfilling his own sexual needs.

“I am pleased that this case has been brought to a swift conclusion for the sake of the victim and her family and I hope that Wiseman’s sentence and the stringent conditions of the SHPO prevent him from having the freedom to harm a child ever again.

“I would like to thank the victim for showing such bravery throughout this investigation, and her family for the support they have provided, both to their daughter and the investigation throughout.

“I hope this case and the sentence that Wiseman has received encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report them to us.

“We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.”

Pictured - Richard Wiseman.