Locations
Ash Bank Road, Werrington, Stoke-on-trent, Staffordshire, ST2
Description
A paedophile who groomed a 14-year-old girl via online apps Roblox and Snapchat has been jailed.
Ben Bryan, 34, of Ash Bank Road, Stoke-on-Trent, had been communicating with the child despite her telling him of her age.
He told her that he loved her and had arranged to meet her.
On October 20 last year, officers came across Bryan’s vehicle in the Clifton Drive North area of Blackpool.
The vehicle had a defective light and was showing as having no MOT.
When officers went to speak to the driver, Bryan, they had concerns for the girl in the passenger seat.
As investigations commenced, it was found that Bryan had been communicating with the victim for some time, he had indecently exposed himself to her and engaged in sexual activity in her presence.
He was arrested, and following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service charged with child grooming, child abduction, non-penetrative sexual activity, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child and engaging in sexual communication.
He pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court and was sentenced to six years and six months in prison.
He has been ordered to sign the sex offenders register and has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and a restraining order.
A Lancashire Constabulary spokesperson said:
“Bryan knew how young his victim was yet continued to groom her for his own perverted sexual desires.
“His victim has shown an incredible level of strength and bravery throughout the investigation, and we can only commend her for that. We hope she can now begin to move forward with her life knowing that Bryan is behind bars.
“If you are reading this, and you recognise the signs of grooming, or a sexual offence that may be happening to you, please know that we will listen to your report, we will thoroughly investigate, and we will do all we can to get you justice.”