A convicted paedophile from Runcorn, Cheshire, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for encouraging another individual to commit sexual offences against young children. Paul Pickerill, aged 66, engaged in extensive online communications that promoted and detailed the sexual abuse of children, leading to his conviction at Chester Crown Court.
The case came to light during a police investigation in April 2021, when officers seized Pickerill's phone while probing other sexual offences. Analysis of the device revealed thousands of horrific messages exchanged between Pickerill and Vicki Bevan, 37, who had already been imprisoned for life in May for the systematic abuse of a girl under 10. The messages explicitly discussed the assault, injury, and sexual abuse of children under the age of 13, with Pickerill intentionally encouraging Bevan to carry out penetrative offences, which she subsequently committed.
In addition to the incriminating communications, police discovered 141 indecent images and videos of children on Pickerill's devices. He was interviewed in prison in Doncaster about the messages before being arrested and charged. On 25 August, Pickerill pleaded guilty to intentionally encouraging Bevan to commit these offences. Sentencing occurred on Friday at Chester Crown Court, where he received 10 years' imprisonment, with an additional five years on licence. He is also subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and must remain on the sex offenders' register for life.
- Pickerill encouraged penetrative sexual offences against children under 13.
- Exchanged thousands of messages detailing child abuse with Vicki Bevan.
- Possessed 141 indecent images and videos of children.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Pauline Newrick of CPS Mersey Cheshire described the case as deeply distressing, stating: "This has been a very distressing case for the whole prosecution team as there were communications between Pickerill and Bevan that no one should have to read." She further emphasised: "The content of those messages clearly shows the depths to which Pickerill was prepared to go to in encouraging another person to sexually abuse very young children. Without perpetrators like Pickerill, who enable other paedophiles, the abuse of children would not be so extensive. I am pleased that he has been given such a substantial sentence. His imprisonment will no doubt protect other possible victims from this dreadful abuse."
Bevan, from St Helens, Merseyside, was convicted alongside Paul Rafferty, 62, and Tony Hutton, 42, at Liverpool Crown Court in May for abusing a young girl over a two-year period from 2019 to 2021. She pleaded guilty to multiple counts including rape, assault of a child under 13 by penetration, sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making and distributing indecent images, and possessing extreme pornography. Judge Andrew Menary KC condemned her actions as "shockingly depraved" fantasies and imposed a minimum term of 10 years before parole eligibility.
The Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the role of such enablers in perpetuating child sexual exploitation, underscoring the importance of the investigation by Cheshire Police in bringing Pickerill to justice. Source: The Independent, reporting on the Crown Prosecution Service statement.