Abstract artist, 36, who molested a schoolgirl, 14, after inviting her to his studio to see his work and plying her with cider, has been jailed

An abstract artist who molested a schoolgirl after inviting her to his studio to see his work and plied her with cider has been jailed.

Ralph McGaul, then 36, admitted to sexually abusing the 14-year-old on four occasions over a three-month period in 2020.

The artist took advantage of the teenager, who said she ‘sometimes doesn’t recognize herself anymore’ after the abuse, at a picnic and at her art studio in Bollington, near Macclesfield.

The sex offender also talked her into running away to Cornwall where he said they would go surfing and then have ‘hot steamy sex’ in his tent.

After McGaul got back together with his long-term partner, he refused to see the girl anymore and when she asked why, he texted her: ‘I’m sorry for what happened and the things I’ve done and how I treated you. I am ashamed.’

McGaul was eventually reported to the police and was arrested in February 2022.

The girl, now 18, told police how she has ‘intrusive thoughts’ about McGaul which make her feel ‘crazy and disgusted’.

In a statement to police, the victim said: ‘I really try not to think about what happened and the man who did it to me but I often have intrusive thoughts about him and when I do I get an overriding feeling of sorry. and disgust.

‘These are the same feelings that make me unable to behave normally or carry on. I am left completely deflated, experiencing feelings of fear and withdrawing into myself, away from those I love.

‘I often don’t seem to have the energy for anything else, I struggle to engage with others to maintain conversations with family, friends, I can’t concentrate on work or school.

‘Because of this I have had to take time out from school and work, unable to dictate my own routine and schedule because of what happened.’

She added: ‘These events have completely changed my ability to be around people.

“I’m usually an outgoing, bubbly, conversational person, yet I’ve often found myself wanting to be alone, withdraw and push people away. Sometimes I don’t even recognize myself anymore

‘There is an overwhelming sense of separation from myself as an individual and everything going on around me.

‘I feel like I’ve been transformed into a new person, someone I don’t always recognise, sometimes a complete stranger from the girl I once was before this all happened.

‘I used to be confident and independent when I was alone in public, but now I think twice about everything I do and how people behave around me.

‘Even in broad daylight I am anxious and wary of everyone. I find myself trying to anticipate what their intentions are and predicting the worst in some cases.

‘I feel alienated from the idea of ​​safety in some cases, a feeling I never had before all that happened.

“I have had several nightmares about the event and what he did and what he might have done if I had never spoken up.”

At Chester Crown Court, McGaul, now 40, who studied art in Brighton and Barcelona, ​​was locked up for five years and four months after being convicted of sexual assault.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and was banned from contacting the girl under a restraining order.

He admitted four counts of sexual activity with a child but denied having intercourse with her. He was acquitted of rape and sexual grooming.

The pair became close after initially meeting in December 2018, by chance while cycling.

Prosecutor Matthew Dunford said. ‘She described an occasion where the two had been out for a picnic and were lying outside.

‘She described him starting to happen to her and she asked him what he was doing. He said he couldn’t help it and tried to ignore him and she felt like she couldn’t just get up and leave as she was, as she said, “in the middle of nowhere”.

‘She described other occasions when the defendant had spoken to her about moving with her to Cornwall.

‘He said that after surfing they could go into their tent and have hot steamy sex. The defendant further told her that he saw her as more than just a friend.

“For her part, she told him that she saw him as a really good friend. She told him she was 14.’

The prosecutor added: ‘There was one occasion in June 2020 where she had gone to his shed where he was living at the time. During the day he had shown her how to do screen printing, and she ended up turning to tea.

But he gave her some cider to drink and she described how it made her feel quite dizzy. Afterwards, she describes sitting on the bed when he started touching her, and she says she didn’t know how to tell him to stop.

‘He started taking off his clothes and not knowing how to leave the situation she left. She describes feeling stuck and describes not knowing how to say no.’

“Some time after this, she describes that she became aware that the defendant had returned with his partner, and she says that this made her feel confused. She sent a message to the defendant explaining how she felt.

‘She said at first she blamed herself for what happened, but as time went on she realized it wasn’t her fault.

“The defendant replied and said he was sorry for what had happened – for the things he had done and how he had treated her. He said he was ashamed of himself.’

Police arrested McGaul in February 2022, but he made no comment in the police interview.

His barrister Mark Ford KC said: ‘In the months leading up to the offenses his relationship with his partner had broken down and the defendant was effectively cut off from the services that previously provided stability to his life.

“Their chance meeting had profound consequences for both of them. As the evidence of social media messages makes clear, the complainant was keen to accompany the accused and, having no preconceived notion of where the meeting was likely to lead, found himself infatuated with the victim.

‘She was an intelligent and articulate young woman.

“She was interested in all the things that the defendant was interested in, the outdoors, music and art.

“The defendant was completely captivated by her, as is often the case when someone’s feelings are caught up in the delirium of romantic love.

“Illogical or hopeless as it may seem, people in this situation may believe that their feelings are reciprocated. Mr. McGaul certainly did.’

Sentencing, Judge Recorder Eric Lamb said: “It has been submitted on your behalf that your actions were illogical and foolish and ultimately harmful, but they were based on the self-delusion that there was or could be a relationship between yourself. and the victim.

‘She was 14 and you were 36, and as you rightly acknowledge in your course of self-analysis and display of remorse, you were the adult and should have known better.’