A Warwickshire man was today (Friday 27 September) jailed for four years and seven months after admitting to sexual offences against two teenage girls he befriended online.
Macauley Colledge, 20, of no fixed abode, appeared at Warwick Crown Court for sentencing.
He had admitted two counts of engaging in a penetrative sex act with a girl aged 13 to 15, two counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in a sexual act and one count of perverting the course of justice.
The court heard that Colledge befriended the vulnerable teenagers using social media. In one incident in January, Colledge met the two girls and they went to a park in Queen’s Road, Nuneaton, where he plied them with alcohol before engaging in sexual activity with them.
Afterwards, Colledge got one of the girls to delete messages from her phone.
The Warwickshire Police Child Sexual Exploitation Team launched an investigation after the mother of one of the victims raised concerns with police.
Detective Constable Paul Hinton from the Warwickshire Police Child Sexual Exploitation Team said: “The victims in this case were two vulnerable young girls. Colledge exploited their vulnerability for his own sexual gratification. He is a dangerous offender and I am pleased he has been sent to prison.
“As well as jailing Colledge we have helped to safeguard two vulnerable girls and ensured support is put in place for them.
“This case demonstrates how sexual predators can use social media to target vulnerable children and should serve as a warning to parents. It is important parents talk to their children about staying safe online and put appropriate controls in place to protect them.
“I hope this case gives anyone else who has been a victim of online exploitation the confidence to come forward. We will listen and we will take action.”
For more information and advice go to www.warwickshirecse.co.uk
Colledge was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a Restraining Order.
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