October 2014

Manipulative paedophile jailed for 20 years for sex crimes against children in Bristol and Gloucester

An evil paedophile who met a woman on a dating website went on to commit a serious of sickening sexual offences against children in Bristol and Gloucester.

Michael Cropton, 42, of Stonehouse, Gloucester, was jailed for 20 years at Bristol Crown Court today. He will also serve an extended six year licence following the prison sentence and will be placed on the sex offenders’ register. He also received a Sexual Offenders Prevention Order (SOPO) to run indefinitely.

A 39-year-old woman was also jailed for 32 months in connection with this investigation. She cannot be named for legal reasons.

She will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Cropton and the woman jointly admitted one count of conspiracy to sexually assault a child under the age of 13 and arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

These charges relate to two girls.

In addition, Cropton also admitted four counts of rape in relation to a third victim, a boy.

Cropton met the woman through an online dating site in 2013 and over a period of time encouraged the woman to become involved in the sexual abuse of children.

Det Insp Gary Stephens, of Avon and Somerset Police’s Public Protection Unit, said: “This has been a distressing and harrowing investigation involving the horrific sexual abuse of children.

“Michael Cropton is a devious and manipulative man who used classic grooming techniques to identify vulnerable children he could abuse.

“He admitted these offences due to the overwhelming evidence against him which resulted from the hard work of the investigation team.

“We believe there could be more victims out there and I hope the outcome of this case will encourage people to come forward and speak to us in confidence.

“I would also appeal to anyone who has been in a relationship with Michael Cropton to please get in touch with us.

“Cropton is now in the right place and the community is a much safer place without him in it.”