Overview

• Stephen McPhee, 34, of Rigby Avenue, Crewe, was convicted of attempted rape of a girl under 13 after a six-day trial at Chester Crown Court.
• Jurors acquitted him of two rape charges, delivering the mixed outcome reported by the court.
• He was sentenced on September 4 to seven years in prison, placed on the sex offenders' register for life, and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
• The offences were historical, with abuse occurring when the victim was aged nine to 11, and an investigation began in 2021 after her disclosure.
• Detective Constable Lindsay Wooffitt said McPhee showed no remorse and forced the victim to relive her experiences in court, while reiterating the force’s commitment to thorough investigations and victim support.