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

A former carer tasked with protecting 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 required to look after vulnerable children and young people. But he used his role to groom a teenage girl, “breaching and betraying” her trust to commit a series 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 vulnerable policing unit protecting the west.

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Cooper-Shaw was arrested shortly after the police report. When detectives reviewed his devices, they found he had a number of indecent images of children.

Cooper-Shaw returned to the same court yesterday, Friday, May 31, to be sentenced for the 21 offences. These were:

• Seven cases of sexual activity with a child.

• One count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

• One count of rape.

• A number of attempts at 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.

• A reason to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity by a person in a position of trust.

He was later sentenced to 19 years in prison.

Following Cooper-Shaw’s sentencing, 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 supposed to be in a position of trust, protection and care. young people.

“Despite knowing this and how vulnerable the victim was, Cooper-Shaw breached and betrayed that trust by abusing and deeply traumatizing the young victim at a time when she should have felt safe. I would like to thank the victim for the immense courage and strength they have shown throughout this investigation – first to report the crimes, then also to testify and help convict this man of his behavior predatory and deformed.

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

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