Locations
Holly Street, Tottington, Bury, Greater Manchester, BL8
Description
A LAW student from Bury travelled to Birmingham with the aim of meeting a 13-year-old boy he had been grooming only to discover police were already at the address.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard Ashley Brooks had already been given a warning by the police about his conduct but tried to meet the teenager in January this year.
Judge Mark Savill, learning of his conduct, said it was the most extraordinary of events I have encountered.
The court heard the 25-year-old had been communicating with his victim since July 2020 after meeting on a Playstation network. He lied about his age initially and then threatened to harm himself if the teen blocked him.
But last October he was visited by police after officers in Northern Ireland had become concerned about his contact with another teen.
Officers visited his home on Holly Street, Tottington, and he was released on bail.
But last January, on the day officers visited the home of the teen in Birmingham he had been in contact with, he went to meet him and had a hotel room booked.
When he phoned the 13-year-old police answered and he asked officers if he could say goodbye.
Brooks went on to visit the home after officers had left to apologise before handing himself in at Bury Police Station a short time later.
He appeared in court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to child grooming.
Neil Usher, prosecuting, said: His father speaks of his shock at his son being involved in such things. It has impacted on his school. It has had a lasting impact on their son, who shouldnt have to deal with these things at his age.
The court heard Brooks had been in contact with three teenage boys, one of whom did not wish to assist the police and another who could not be traced.
James Preece, defending, said his client had been studying for a law degree online but understood this was no longer an option.]
He added that Brooks had encountered loneliness and mental health issues and said he had felt he was in a relationship with the boy.
Passing sentence, Judge Savill, said: Anybody who engages in grooming behaviour over this period of time, in the way that you did can expect an immediate sentence of imprisonment.
He jailed Brooks for two years and placed him on the sex offenders register and on a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
Speaking after the case, Det Con James Donnelly, from Bury Police's complex safeguarding team, welcomed the outcome.
He said: "Brooks was clearly a predator online and was targeting young teenage boys online and attempting to meet up with them.
"Thankfully one of the victim's mums raised concerns and reported them meaning we were able to catch him and unravel his crimes.
"This is a step towards making the online world that little bit safer for children online now Brooks is behind bars.
"I would urge parents and carers to be cautious about who their children and young people are speaking to online and if there are any concerns, report them.