Winsford paedophile jailed for 21 years for historic sex offences

Christopher Rollings, of Wharton Road, was handed 21 years in prison after ‘taking the childhood’ away from his victims by sexually assaulting them.

The 76-year-old appeared in Chester Crown Court today, Thursday, where he was branded an ‘arrogant liar’.

Between 1968 and 1983, Rollings sexually assaulted three young girls and betrayed their trust when he and his victims were living in the Macclesfield area.

One of his victims was just 11 when the abuse began and the other two were aged 13.

On each occasion Rollings became friends with the victims and their families, before sexually abusing the girls.

He also raped one of his victims.

In March 2019, more than 50 years after the first offence, his victims built-up the courage to report the matter to police, resulting in his arrest on Wednesday, April 23, 2019.

Following his arrest, a search was also conducted at Rollings' home in Winsford where officers recovered a number of electronic devices which were found to contain indecent images of children.

Officers also discovered 45 extreme pornographic images which showed a person performing sexual intercourse with live animals.

During questioning Rollings denied abusing any of the girls and even claimed that one of the victims had flirted with him.

He also denied possessing any indecent images of children, stating that one of the devices recovered by police was not his.

Christopher Rollings

Despite his denial, Rollings was charged with a total of 18 offences; he was subsequently found guilty of 15 offences.

Reading out a victim impact statement in court, prosecutor John Philpotts said one victim has suffered from anxiety and depression as a result of what happened to her.

She describes how the defendant ‘took her childhood from her’.

Another victim said she has been unable to trust people and she had nightmares as a child.

It also affected her being able to be physical and intimate with people.

Defending, Simon Christie, told the court how Rollings has no relevant previous convictions.

Judge Patrick Thompson, sentencing, said Rollings abused the trust of his victims.

“These were dreadful offences,” he said.

“And there were even threats of the consequences should your victims speak out.”

He added that throughout the court proceedings, Rollings had shown ‘arrogance’ and tried to say the victims were lying.

“The only liar I’m afraid is you,” Judge Thompson told Rollings as he stood in the dock.

“When your victims finally spoke out, your sexual interest in children was revealed by what was found on your computer.”

Rollings will serve a total of 21 years in prison, plus an extended licence period of one year.

He’ll sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Thompson paid tribute to the bravery of the three victims in speaking out about what had happened to them.

He said: “I hope they look forward to happier and brighter futures.”