Joseph Fenwick, aged 31 and residing in Latchford, was convicted at Chester Crown Court of sexually assaulting a child under 13. The offence, believed to have taken place in Runcorn, involved Fenwick touching the victim in a sexual manner over their clothing and instructing the child to keep it a secret, warning that 'something bad would happen' if they told anyone. The abuse came to light when the victim disclosed the incident to their mother, prompting police involvement.
During the investigation, Fenwick initially admitted to police upon arrest that they 'hated' themselves for the actions but provided no comment in a subsequent interview. At trial, Fenwick, who has transitioned and now uses the name Jessica Enfield, denied the allegations, claiming poor memory and suggesting to the jury that the victim and their mother were lying. The jury rejected these claims after a three-day trial, convicting Fenwick on the charge. Recorder Mark Ford, sentencing the defendant, described the denials as a 'mechanism to avoid responsibility and deny the behaviour engaged in', noting that Fenwick compelled the young victim to give evidence, exacerbating the trauma.
The court heard from prosecutor Anna Price about the profound impact on the victim's family. In an impact statement summarised by Price, the victim's mother stated: 'The defendant did the worst thing imaginable and could have destroyed my life. I lost who I was at the time.' She expressed ongoing efforts to rebuild their lives and emphasised that the defendant 'is not going to stop them from having the best lives', while highlighting the victim's self-blame. The judge acknowledged the emotional and psychological consequences for the victim, stating: 'The victim was compelled to give evidence by your insistence to go to trial. That experience, coupled with the experience of the offending itself, is likely to have emotional and psychological consequences on the victim.'
Fenwick has a prior conviction from 2010 for wounding, resulting in a community order. Defence barrister Mark Pritchard argued for a suspended sentence, citing Fenwick's acceptance of the verdict, desire for mental health support, low risk of reoffending, and potential for rehabilitation. However, Recorder Ford deemed the offence too serious for anything but immediate custody, sentencing Fenwick to two years' imprisonment on 11th September 2023. Additional measures included a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, a 10-year restraining order, and registration on the sex offender register for 10 years. Investigations suggested further sexual activity, but sentencing proceeded solely on the proven assault.
This case underscores rising child sex offences in the region, as reported in the article from Runcorn and Widnes World, based on court proceedings at Chester Crown Court.