Paedophile 'schoolboy' jailed

[10 September 2008]

A man who posed as a schoolboy and formed a relationship with a 13-year old girl will go to prison for two-and-a-half years.

James Chester, 22, admitted to abduction and sexual activity with an underage girl. The victim's family believed Chester was a Year 10 schoolboy. He used a fake birth certificate and a letter of support to become a pupil at St Edmund's Catholic School in Portsmouth. He attended the school for three weeks before staff became suspicious and reported him to police. A year later, Chester tried to join the City of Portsmouth Boys' School, but background checks led to him being rejected. The victim was not a pupil at either school. After forming a relationship with her, the pair went missing and were found in Northern Ireland two days later.

Chester was described in court as having a personality disorder and was delusional after suffering a violent childhood. Chester apparently wanted to be 16 again after he was taken into care from his father. He had given the girl a ring and she believed they would get married. Chester has been banned from going within 50 metres of secondary schools, playgrounds and children's events, wearing school uniforms and trying to enrol in schools. He has also been banned from working with children and will sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

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