Sexual predator jailed after abusing young boys

A sexual predator has been jailed after he admitted sexually abusing young boys.

Andrew Thompson appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday 19 February 2024 where he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The 32-year-old, of Rossall Road, Great Sankey, had previously pleaded guilty to 33 offences, including:

• Nine counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.
• 19 counts of voyeurism.
• Two counts of making indecent images.
• Two counts of taking indecent images.
• One count of possession of indecent images.

During the hearing, the court was told that Thompson was working as a teaching assistant in Cheshire and also volunteered at an Air Training Corps (ATC).

The investigation initially began in July 2022 after a camera was found by another member of staff hidden in the toilets at the ATC.

The camera was recovered and sent for analysis where officers discovered thousands of images, including footage of a man installing the camera.

The suspect was subsequently identified as Andrew Thompson, who was arrested on Saturday 23 December 2022.

Following his arrest, a number of other electronic devices were seized, and Thompson was released on conditional bail while the devices were sent to be analysed by the digital forensic team.

As part of his bail conditions, he was prevented from working with children.

Over the following months officers spent hundreds of hours analysing all of the devices where they recovered thousands of indecent images of young boys.

These included images of children taken at the school where Thompson was working, along with images of children which he took while on trips away with the ATC.

Officers also spoke to a number of boys known to Thompson who revealed that he had sexually assaulted them.

After gathering a catalogue of evidence against him, Thompson was rearrested in September and charged in connection with the incidents. He subsequently pleaded guilty to all the charges.

In addition to his prison sentence, he has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life, is subject to a sexual harm prevention order, and is subject to restraining orders against his victims.

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Simon Mills said:

“Thompson is a sexual predator and the sentence handed to him by the court reflects the severity of his offending.

“He abused his position and it’s clear that he had no regards for his victims, his only concern was to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

“Thankfully, following our detailed investigation, and the statements provided by his victims, he has now been held accountable for his actions.”

 Detective Inspector Mills added:

 “We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any reports will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.

“Victims should never feel ashamed to talk about what they have been subjected to. They will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers, as well as from other support agencies we work alongside, and all victims of sexual offences have the right to anonymity.”

If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, or know of someone who has, please call us on 101 or report it to us via our website.

Information can also be reported anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.