Heywood sex offender brought to Bolton Crown Court

Christopher Hoyle, now 38, denied his crimes when brought before Bolton Crown Court but was convicted by a jury after a trial of sex crimes against a “young and vulnerable” girl.

The young woman he targeted has now bravely come forward to make Hoyle’s crime known and raise vital questions about the sentencing of sexual offenders and treatment of young victims.

She said: “I am relieved that he has been held accountable and convicted for what he did, but I cannot say that the sentence makes what happened feel any less devastating.

“He took a piece of me that day.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Phil Taylor)

“He took away a sense of safety, trust and innocence that I can never get back.

“He may be able to carry on with his life, but I am the one who has had to carry what he did to me.

“At the time this happened, I was 17 years old. I was young and vulnerable, and I feel that he took advantage of that.

“The impact of his actions has stayed with me and has affected the person I am today.”

The young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said that at the time Hoyle committed his crimes he was 32 but lied about his age.

She says that he claimed to be a 25-year-old called Dan and that he was from Middleton, when he was seven years older than he claimed to be and was actually from Heywood.

Hoyle had also lied to his victim about his name.

Despite his denials, Hoyle, of Dumbarton Drive, Heywood, was charged and was eventually convicted of sexual assault.

Brought back before Bolton Crown Court, he was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work with 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Hoyle was also hit with a 10-year restraining order forbidding him from contacting his victim or coming near her and was put on the sex offenders register for 10 years.