Locations
Crewe Road, Winterley, Sandbach, Cheshire East, CW11
Description
A man who pretended to be a 15-year-old boy online in order to groom a teenage girl has been jailed.
Daniel Kennedy appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 22 May where he was sentenced to 13 months in prison, handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and made to sign the sex offenders register.
The 36-year-old of Crewe Road, Winterley, had earlier pleaded guilty of one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.
The court heard how Kennedy initially contacted his victim in October 2024 via social media while posing a 15-year-old boy.
Following a number of conversations between the pair, he began to send the victim several indecent images and also encouraged the 15-year-old teenager to share images of herself.
The activity came to light in December 2024 when the victim’s mum spotted her daughter looking at the images on her mobile phone and reported the matter to police.
Following enquiries Kennedy was arrested in relation to the allegations and formally charged.
Detective Constable Simon Knowles said:
“Kennedy is a calculating, predatory offender, he purposefully posed as a teenage boy in order to groom his victim for his own sexual gratification.
“He was well aware that he victim was only a child, yet he sent her a number of indecent images.
“I would like to thank the victim and her family for the bravery and courage that they have shown, and I hope the sentence handed to Kennedy will provide them with some closure.
“This case is another reminder of the dangers posed to children online. We will continue to work with our partners and other forces to identify and apprehend offenders, while also educating families on steps they can take to keep their children safe online.”