First aid volunteer sentenced for child sex offences

A man who abused his position of trust as a First Aid volunteer to meet young girls has today, Monday 20 April 2009, been jailed.

Michael Booth (born 03/01/87) of Waterside Lane, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of possessing indecent images of children and three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity at an earlier hearing.

He was sentenced to eight months in prison at Bolton Crown Court. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years and was made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years.

Detective Constable Claire Waring, from the Public Protection Investigation Unit, said: "Booth used his position as a volunteer to meet young girls. He would then network with them before taking advantage of, and in some cases, sexually assaulted them.

"His actions were deceitful and a massive breach of trust to all those who placed faith in him.

"I would like to praise the courage of those girls who have been brave enough to come forward and report Booth, who will now have time in prison to contemplate what he has done."

In the summer of 2006, Booth attended a St John Ambulance camp in Staffordshire as an adult volunteer.

He befriended a young cadet, who was 13 at the time.

Over the following months the two communicated over the Internet, with the content becoming increasingly sexual.

Booth incited the victim to pose topless and send pictures of her to him.

On 30 May 2007 Booth visited the victim's home. While there he sexually assaulted the girl, who was 14.

The victim was interviewed by police on 9 August 2007. Booth was arrested the following day and his computer seized.

Examination of his computer found it contained 19 indecent images of children.

A number of exhibits were shown to a child protection officer from St John Ambulance and three further victims were identified.

Booth was found to have sexually assaulted one of these girls.