Gang who groomed and abused girl in Blackrod found guilty

The last of the defendants was found guilty today, Tuesday, after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court lasting three months.

Four of the men were convicted of rape or attempted rape and all were found guilty of sexual activity with the girl when she was aged between 13 and 15.

The jury heard how the offences occurred at different locations but mainly at a party home in Blackrod, where drugs and drink were consumed.

They introduced the girl, described as “young, naive and impressionable” to cocaine and cannabis.

The trial took place at Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Newsquest) Prosecutor Ben Lawrence said: “She was groomed. As part of the grooming, and to lessen any objections, she was plied with alcohol, cannabis and cocaine.”

He added: “At various times she considered herself to be in a relationship with a number of the defendants. However, the feeling wasn’t mutual.

Defendants committed both consensual and non-consensual offences against her.

Jamie Fitzgerald (Image: PA) “They were, of course, content if she consented to sexual activity. However, if she didn’t consent they would do it anyway.”

He said that the defendants were part of “a malign friendship group, which sought to prey on her once it became clear that another man had been able to have sex with her repeatedly.”

Cory Barrett, 24, formerly of Blackrod but now of Wigan, was convicted of five rapes and one offences of sexual assault by penetration.

Daniel Flatters (Image: PA) Jack Martyn Poulson, 31, of Bolton, was found guilty of two rapes, five of sexual activity with a child, one causing a person to engage in sexual activity, one of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communications with a child.

Richard Oliver Haslam, 35, of Bolton, was convicted of three rape offences, two of sexual activity and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

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Daniel Flatters, 34, of Bolton, was guilty of four offences of sexual activity and Brandon Jacob Harwood, 25, also of Bolton, of attempted rape and sexual activity.

Elliott Turner, 26, was convicted of two sexual activity counts and James Lee Fitzgerald, 36, both of Bolton, was convicted of one offence of assault by penetration.

Harvie Aspden, 25, of Radcliffe, was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child.

The defendants, who were cleared of some other similar charges they faced, have all been remanded in custody to face sentencing at a date yet to be fixed.