An
online “predatory” paedophile who groomed teenage girls on social
networking sites – abusing one 14 year-old at her home and a 15
year-old via a webcam – has been caged for nine years.
Part-time
DJ Benjamin Spratt, 28, of Evelyn Place, Chelmsford, Essex chatted to
the victims on teen website MYLOL – impressing them with his
experiences in the music entertainment industry.
He
pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to
inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual
activity himself, via a web-cam, on October 27, 2011.
He
also admitted meeting the girl after online grooming on October 28,
with intent to have sexual intercourse, and two charges of engaging
in sexual activity with her.
Spratt
also pleaded guilty to inciting a second girl to engage in sexual
activity via a web-cam on October 24, 2011 and two counts of
attempting to meet her after sexual grooming.
The
licensed taxi driver travelled to the 14 year-old victim's home to
sexually abuse her.
He
then turned up at her school three days later and she told her
teachers that he was outside.
The
school called police, but he had left before they arrived.
Spratt
was arrested and questioned by officers from Operation Sapphire,
which investigates sexual offences.
On
further examination of his computer, officers discovered he had been
in contact with numerous young girls.
Officers
tracked down a 15-year-old girl who told them that Spratt convinced
her to engage in sexual activity online while he performed a sex act
on himself.
Spratt
was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and given a
Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years.
He
was also banned from using the internet to talk with children,
communicate with any female under 16 without supervision and to allow
the police to examine any device with either internet or digital
image storage.
Detective
Constable John Daly, of Sapphire Command, said: "Benjamin Spratt
is a predatory paedophile who has targeted a vulnerable young girl to
satisfy his own sexual needs.
"The
Metropolitan Police Service is dedicated to protecting the public
from sexual predators and encouraging victims to come forward. They
will be fully supported by specially trained officers."
Detective
Inspector Keith Ward, of Sapphire Command, said: "The victim was
targeted, groomed and exploited by Spratt.
"This
crime again shows how the internet and social media can be used by
paedophiles to snare their victims.
“This
conviction will provide reassurance that we will relentlessly pursue
those who commit these dreadful crimes against children."
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