July 2013
Man jailed for grooming schoolgirl
A MAN from Merseyside has been jailed for two years for intimidating a teenage girl from Evesham into sending him indecent images of her via her mobile phone.
Adam Hayes, aged 22, of Oxton Road, Wallasey, was sentenced atWorcester Crown Court for two counts of an offender aged 18 or over causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and one of making an indecent photograph of a child.
Last year, Hayes made contact with the 13-year-old girl from Evesham via BlackBerry Messenger but she initially refused any contact.
However, Hayes threatened her and demanded she respond and send him indecent photographs of herself.
He told her he was a police officer and would be able to trace her and cause her harm if she did not send photographs.
During September and October, the girl sent a number of images and videos.
She eventually confided in a friend and her mother, and West Mercia Police were called.
Detectives identified Hayes through his BlackBerry and subsequently traced him to Merseyside where he was arrested.
Twenty six images and videos were recovered from Hayes’s phone and he admitted the contact at an early stage but claimed he thought the girl was 15 years old and not 13.
He appeared at court yesterday to enter a plea and pleaded guilty to all three offences. He was sentenced to two years for both counts of sexual activity and four months for possessing images of children, all to be served concurrently.
A Sexual Offences Prevention Order was granted for five years, which prevents Hayes from contacting his victim or any female under 16 without supervision, and he has been ordered to sign the Sexual Offenders Register for 10 years.
Detective Inspector Andy Price of South Worcestershire CID said: “This is a classic example of an adult offender persuading and intimidating a young girl into sending him indecent images.
“The judge took into account the impact Hayes’s activity had on a young vulnerable victim who was particularly distressed by the threatening behaviour used to obtain the images.
“I want to praise the girl for having the courage to raise the alarm and contact the police; because of her we have been able to prosecute Hayes and protect her and other potential victims.
“However, by the time she came forward the damage was already done. “I want young people to know that if anyone contacts them via BBM or other social media and they are worried about who they are, they should speak straight away to an adult they trust, such as a teacher or relative, or contact the police on 101.”
