January 2022

‘Arrogant’ Rotherham paedophile abused young girl and threatened her to keep her quiet

A “domineering” paedophile who sexually assaulted a young girl and threatened her in a bid to conceal the abuse has been jailed for more than a decade.

Paul Chadwick, from Rotherham, was described by a judge as displaying “monumental arrogance” as he lied to a jury which convicted him of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 in the mid-2000s last week.

The 58-year-old was further convicted at Sheffield Crown Court of sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13 and a single count of intimidation.

Judge Jeremy Richardson, the Recorder of Sheffield, said Chadwick gave evidence in “what may be described in a pugnacious manner” as he sentenced him to 10-and-a-half years in prison.

The court heard that the abuse of the victim involved two one-off incidents during which Chadwick was said to have been drunk.

While Judge Richardson said there was evidence to suggest he threatened his victim to keep quiet about the abuse at the time, he was found to have made another threat during a text exchange with a third party while he was being prosecuted.

Judge Richardson said: “The consequences for the victim have been considerable. She has been very adversely affected as has been summarised before the court this morning.”

He added: “You gave evidence in what may only be described as a pugnacious manner. You are also a man entirely comfortable with telling lies. The jury saw through your lies but I emphasise you won’t be sentenced for any of that.

“Your arrogance before the jury is irrelevant for the purposes of passing sentence upon you.

Chadwick, of Poplar Avenue, Thrybergh, will be on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life and a lifelong restraining order banning him from contacting his victim was also imposed.