Man jailed for online child sex offences

A man from St Helens has been jailed for 4 years and 2 months for online child sex offences.

Alan Cherry, aged 67, from St Helens appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 7 May) where he was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months after pleading guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). 

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.  

The court heard that Cherry started a conversation with a 13 year old child over the internet, inciting the child to engage in sexual activity. Cherry was identified and police officers from the NWROCU attended his address on 25^th March 2025 to arrest him.

Detective Constable Becky Murrell from the NWROCU said:

"Offenders like Cherry believe they can hide behind a computer or phone screen and evade justice, but this conviction proves otherwise. Cherry is a sexual predator now behind bars, and his actions have no place in our society. As a registered sex offender, he breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of our community.

“We collaborate with law enforcement nationwide to protect children from danger, whether it occurs in person or online. This conviction serves as a stark reminder that sexual abuse knows no borders; it can happen anywhere, and its impact is devastating. If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report it to the police."