Overview
- A Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court jury found Christopher Shepherd, 43, guilty of raping a girl under 13, sexually assaulting a girl under 13, and meeting a girl under 16 following grooming.
- During the trial, Shepherd pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child.
- Investigators say he communicated with a number of girls online in 2021–2022 and exchanged indecent images during those conversations.
- Prosecutors said he arranged to meet one victim, picked her up in his car, and raped her.
- Shepherd was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 20 April 2026, as Staffordshire Police praised survivors and said they would seek the toughest possible punishment.