James Huband

James Huband, a 48-year-old man from the Winsford area, was jailed for 26 years following his guilty plea to a series of serious sexual offences against four children in Northwich, Cheshire. The offences, which took place between 2023 and 2025, involved the rape and sexual assault of young girls under the age of 13.

Huband appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, 12 February 2026, where he was formally sentenced. He had previously admitted to four counts of rape of a girl under 13, three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, and four counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. In addition to his custodial sentence, Huband was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his future behaviour and protect the public.

The investigation into Huband's crimes was led by Cheshire Constabulary, with specialist officers playing a key role in gathering evidence. A notable breakthrough came from the deployment of a seminal detection dog named PD Ebony, which located Huband’s semen on one of the victims’ blankets at a site where some of the offences occurred. This forensic evidence directly contradicted Huband's initial denials, where he had dismissed the allegations as mere 'childish imagination' and attempted to leverage his adult status to discredit the victims.

Detective Constable Savy Joshi, the officer in charge of the case, commented on the challenges faced during the investigation: 'This has been a really challenging case for a number of reasons, and so I’m relieved our hard work has paid off by securing justice for these innocent children. Predators like Huband operate on manipulation and control, doing everything they can to silence and discredit those they harm. Thanks to the meticulous evidence gathered throughout this investigation, and the remarkable courage shown by all four victims, Huband has now been stripped of that control.'

Detective Sergeant Laura Bradshaw, the Senior Investigating Officer, highlighted the devastating impact of the abuse: 'Cases of child sexual abuse are always devastating, but this one has been particularly harrowing for everyone involved. The children in this case had their lives shattered by the actions of one man who chose to exploit their vulnerability in the most appalling way. Their strength has ensured that no other child will be harmed by Huband.' The sentencing reflects the severity of the offences, providing some measure of closure for the victims while ensuring Huband's long-term incarceration.

The case was reported by Cheshire Constabulary on their official website, underscoring the force's commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation through thorough investigations and victim support.