Curtains of Crime: A Predator’s Dark Deception
In a chilling case from Leicester, 35-year-old Christopher Rowbottom was sentenced to 13 years in prison for raping an 11-year-old schoolgirl. The father-of-two, from Featherstone, West Yorkshire, used TikTok to befriend the girl before flooding her with messages on Snapchat, Discord, and Roblox, manipulating her into believing they were in a romantic relationship.
Rowbottom, a warehouse worker, called her his “wife” and sent lewd messages, exploiting her innocence. He coerced her into sending explicit images and fitted his car with privacy curtains to carry out his horrific acts. On at least four trips to Leicester, he drove her to a secluded car park, where he raped her in the back seat.
Leeds Crown Court convicted Rowbottom of rape, sexual communication with a child, grooming, digital penetration, and making indecent images. His devices revealed a disturbing obsession with young girls, including searches about taking their virginity. Despite claims of autism and social isolation, Judge Tahir Khan KC condemned his actions, noting he took advantage of the girl’s immaturity.
Rowbottom is now on the sex offender register for life, bound by a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. The case leaves a haunting reminder of predators lurking online.
