A rapist who locked a child’s phone and made her have sex with him to get it unlocked has been jailed.

Steven Hargreaves, from Northwich, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday, September 12, where he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison.

The 36-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

During the hearing, the court was told that the case began in June 2025 when the victims’ mother discovered a number of concerning messages from Hargreaves on the victims’ mobile phone.

After speaking to the victim, she revealed that Hargreaves had been sexually abusing and repeatedly raping her over a number of years.

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She told police she was around 10 when it al

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