Former care worker found guilty of child sex offences

A former Ellesmere Port care worker has been convicted of a string of sexual offences following a seven day trial at Chester Crown Court.

Following the trial of Kevin Cooper-Shaw, 45, of Kingsmead Road North, Oxton, which began on Monday 11 March, the jury reached a verdict of guilty on 21 of the 23 charges. These were:

• Seven counts of sexual activity with a child
• One count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
• One count of rape
• One count of attempted sexual activity with a child
• Seven counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust
• One count of sexual activity in the presence of a child by a person in a position of trust
• Two counts of making an indecent photograph / pseudo- photograph of a child
• One count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a person in a position of trust

He will be sentenced on 31 May.

The court heard that Cooper-Shaw worked at the care home in Ellesmere Port between April 2018 and October 2021 where he was tasked with safeguarding and caring for vulnerable children and young people.

During this time, Cooper-Shaw groomed a teenage girl at the care home, committing multiple offences against her.

The matter came to police attention in November 2021 and an investigation was launched by the Western Protecting Vulnerable People Unit.

Cooper-Shaw was arrested soon after the report to police. When detectives reviewed his devices, they found him to be in possession of a number of indecent images of children.

Following Cooper-Shaw’s conviction, investigating officer DC Katie Ashcroft said:

“The level of offending in this case and the acts he subjected his victim to were truly horrific. Cooper-Shaw was meant to be in a position of trust, safeguarding and caring for young people. Despite knowing this, and how vulnerable the victim was, Cooper-Shaw violated and betrayed that trust, abusing and deeply traumatising the young victim at a time when she should have been made to feel safe.

“I’d like to thank the victim for their immense courage and strength they’ve shown throughout this investigation - first to come forward to report the crimes, and then also to give evidence and help convict this man for his predatory and warped behaviour.

“I hope this encourages others who have been subjected to such abuse to come forward. They will get the support and advice they need to help them come to terms with their ordeal, and if they so wish, put their abuser before the courts.”