March 2016

Sexual predator who groomed 13-year-old Northwich girl for sex is jailed

A SEXUAL predator who caused a 13-year-old Northwich girl to attempt suicide has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Gary Macey, 27, from Hayhurst Avenue in Middlewich, groomed the Northwich girl and had sex with her on numerous occasions at the same time of attempting to groom three other young girls, a court heard.

Macey appeared at Warrington Crown Court on Wednesday, March 23, and was given a 10 year sentence for 14 offences including sexual activity with a child and possessing indecent images of children and bestiality.

Four-and-a-half years of his sentence will be served in jail, while the rest of his time will be served outside of prison on ‘licence’ under close supervision.

The court heard how Macey groomed the young girl online and went on to have a sexual relationship with her in 2014, quickly becoming abusive and threatening her with rape and posting a naked picture of her on the internet when she refused to engage in sexual activity.

He also created a fake Facebook profile in her name and posted sexual statuses pretending to be the young girl.

The mother of the girl, who has now given up her job to be a carer for her daughter, written a statement which was read out in court.

In it she stated: “Prior to the incident my daughter was a confident 13-year-old girl with a large group of friends and in school she was a popular high achiever. Since, she has been scared to go to school – I have lost count at the amount if times I have been called to collect my distressed daughter.

“This was followed by regular episodes of self-harm. She would cut herself with anything and this quickly turned into suicide attempts by overdosing.

“She has lost interest with previous hobbies and refuses to go outside the house and has insisted that we get locks and bolts on the doors because the fears Gary Macey will come and seek revenge for speaking out. From what Gary Macey has done my daughter is serving a life sentence.”

The 13-year-old, who is now 15, was rushed to Leighton Hospital in October 2014 and was retained in the mental health unit until May 2015, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression.

Her condition continued with numerous suicide attempts and she also started to hear voices.

Macey also approached three other girls under the age of 16 on Facebook, telling one he would ‘pour acid over her face’ after she refused to send indecent images of herself and called him ‘ugly’.

Judge Nicholas Woodward said: “It has had quite a devastating effect on an otherwise healthy and stable young girl. Because of your actions she has had a complete breakdown and she made a serious attempt to take her own life.”