Paramedic Jailed For Sex Abuse

15 November 2011, 15:13 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A paramedic from Manchester has been jailed for four years after grooming a 14-year-old boy over the internet and then molesting him in a woodland.

Ipswich Crown Court heard Edward Trickett, who worked for the ambulance service in Burnley and Manchester, first contacted the teenager via a chat room and then lured him to Theberton Forest, Suffolk, on two occasions in June last year.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 16 without penetration, two of sexual assault with penetration and one of meeting a child after sexual grooming.

Prosecutor Michael Crimp said the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Trickett he was 14 in a series of online conversations - and even asked if he was concerned about his age.

He said: "We say he was fully aware of the boy's age when he drove down from the north to meet him.''

Mr Crimp added: "When they met, Mr Trickett asked for a kiss which the boy gave to him. They then moved to a secluded location and the victim told police he was concerned about what Mr Trickett wanted.

"The victim asked Mr Trickett how he felt about his age. Mr Trickett said he could do whatever he wanted to him.''

The 30-year-old, of Cromwell Grove, Levenshulme, Manchester, worked at Dent Row ambulance station, Burnley, at the time of the offences. He later moved to a base in Manchester.

Katherine Pierpoint, mitigating, said Trickett had himself been the victim of a sexual assault at the age of 14. She added:

"These offences are extremely out of character for him. He is of impeccable good character up to these matters.''

Judge John Devaux jailed Trickett, placed him on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and banned him from working with children for life.