Part-Time DJ Caged For Online Grooming And Abusing Of Teen Girls

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."