He was supposed to keep children safe but used his position to groom and rape a teenage girl

Kevin Cooper-Shaw was sentenced for 21 offences which took place at a care home in Ellesmere Port

A former care worker tasked with safeguarding vulnerable children groomed and raped a teenage girl.

Kevin Cooper-Shaw, 45, worked at a care home in Ellesmere Port between April 2018 and October 2021 where he was supposed to look after vulnerable children and young people. But he used his role to groom a teenage girl, "violating and betraying" the trust put in him to commit a string of heinous crimes against the young victim.

Following a seven-day trial at Chester Crown Court in March this year, Cooper-Shaw, of Kingsmead Road North, Oxton, was found guilty of 21 offences. The court heard the carer was reported to police in November 2021 and an investigation was launched by the western protecting vulnerable policing unit.

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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.

Cooper-Shaw returned back to the same court yesterday, Friday, May 31 to be sentenced for the 21 offences. 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 was subsequently sentenced to 19 years in prison.

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 the 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."

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