A cheerleading Prescot Paedophile coach, Tom Walsh, convicted of sexually abusing minors and distributing child pornography has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Tom Walsh, 37, from Prescot, confessed to numerous charges of sexual abuse involving three females at Bolton Crown Court.
Tom Walsh, residing on Shaw Lane, also confessed to the possession and distribution of child exploitation photographs and will serve an additional five years on licence.
Tom Walsh was issued a lifetime sexual harm prevention order.
Tom Walsh confessed to 28 sexual crimes against minors perpetrated over a nine-year span.
The Greater Manchester Police stated that he was a cheerleader and has provided coaching assistance to children for several years.
The acts occurred in the North West, however Tom Walsh also corresponded with several girls throughout the UK to get photos from them.
His offences were revealed after an inquiry conducted by Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCU).
Undercover police engaged in online communication with Tom Walsh, during which he disclosed his sexual attraction to young girls.
The investigation uncovered numerous indecent images of children saved on Tom Walsh’s device and messages between him and a number of victims, primarily on the app Snapchat.
GMP said a number of victims were identified, including the three girls who were victims of child sexual abuse.
Tom Walsh contacted one victim online when she was 13, and over the next six years groomed and sexually abused her.
Det Ch Insp Suzanne Keenaghan of GMP said: “Tom Walsh was placed in a position of authority and he professed to be a father figure and friend to his victims, but he was their abuser.
“He was manipulative, predatory and exploitative, and used typical grooming behaviour to befriend children who were going through difficult times and were vulnerable.
“For one victim, cheerleading was supposed to be a safe space but Walsh used it as his hunting ground. He has never shown remorse or recognition for what he has done.”
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