A predatory paedophile who fitted privacy curtains in the back of his car specifically to rape an 11-year-old schoolgirl has been jailed for 13 years at Leeds Crown Court.
Christopher Rowbottom, 35, of Featherstone, West Yorkshire, groomed the Leicester-area child through multiple social media platforms before travelling more than 100 miles on at least four occasions to sexually abuse her in his specially-modified vehicle.
The warehouse worker’s calculated campaign of abuse began when he added the primary school pupil on TikTok before bombarding her with messages across Snapchat, Discord and Roblox gaming platform. The court heard how Rowbottom systematically “inserted himself into every facet of this young child’s life.”
Prosecutor Christopher Bevan told Leeds Crown Court that the father-of-two manipulated the vulnerable child into believing they were in a romantic relationship, referring to her as his “wife” whilst making explicit sexual suggestions about his intentions.
The schoolgirl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was persuaded to send naked photographs of herself to Rowbottom, who had purchased privacy curtains specifically to facilitate the abuse in his vehicle.
Mr Bevan revealed that Rowbottom drove from his West Yorkshire home to Leicester on at least four separate occasions, meeting the child before driving her to secluded corners of car parks where he raped her on the back seats of his curtained vehicle.
Following his arrest, analysis of Rowbottom’s electronic devices uncovered disturbing internet searches that “clearly showed an interest in children” and revealed he “had a desire to take the virginity of the child,” the prosecutor told the court.
The 35-year-old was found guilty following a trial of rape, sexual communication with a child, two counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming, digital penetration and making indecent images of children.
During police interviews, Rowbottom gave no-comment responses to all questions, refusing to explain his actions or show any remorse for his crimes against the child victim.
In mitigation, Mohammed Rafiq acknowledged the severity of his client’s offending, telling the court: “He knows he will be getting a significant sentence. He has to accept that.”
Mr Rafiq added that Rowbottom was “showing signs of autism” and described him as “a bit of a loner,” though these factors were given limited weight by the sentencing judge.
Judge Tahir Khan KC delivered a damning assessment of Rowbottom’s predatory behaviour, stating: “You became besotted with her despite the fact she was only 11-years-old.”
“You referred to her as your wife and you took advantage of her immaturity, emotionally and sexually. You bombarded her with disturbing and highly-sexualised images,” the judge continued.
Addressing the calculated nature of the offending, Judge Khan emphasised: “You travelled at least four times to Leicester to have sexual contact with her in a car park.
The judge rejected any attempts to excuse or minimise Rowbottom’s actions, declaring: “None of your history can explain, let alone justify anything that you did.”
The case highlights the dangers children face from online predators who exploit multiple social media platforms to groom vulnerable victims. Child safety experts have repeatedly warned parents about the risks posed by popular apps like TikTok, Snapchat and gaming platforms such as Roblox, where adult predators can easily contact children.
The Leicester schoolgirl’s ordeal demonstrates how predators systematically break down boundaries, moving conversations across different platforms to avoid detection whilst gradually normalising inappropriate relationships with their young victims.
Detective work in the case revealed the premeditated nature of Rowbottom’s crimes, from his installation of privacy curtains in his vehicle to his repeated long-distance journeys to abuse the child. The evidence showed a pattern of calculated grooming designed to exploit the victim’s age and vulnerability.
As part of his sentence, Rowbottom has been placed on the sex offender register for life, meaning he must notify police of his whereabouts and comply with strict monitoring conditions indefinitely.
The court also imposed a life-long sexual harm prevention order, which will severely restrict Rowbottom’s internet usage and prohibit him from having unsupervised contact with children. Any breach of these conditions would result in immediate return to prison.
The case serves as a stark reminder to parents and guardians about the importance of monitoring children’s online activities and maintaining open communication about internet safety. Experts recommend regular checks of children’s devices and apps, as well as educating young people about the tactics used by online predators.
Support services are available for victims of child sexual abuse through organisations such as the NSPCC, which operates a 24-hour helpline for concerned adults and children who have experienced abuse.
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