Bournemouth Crown Court: two jailed after filming teenage girl having sex

Connor Hayes, 24, of Namu Road in Bournemouth, pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court on 5 December 2016 to taking an indecent moving image of a child, possession of indecent images of a child and paying for the sexual services of a child.

William Wright, 24, of Andover Green in Bovington, pleaded guilty at the same court on 3 February 2017 to taking an indecent moving image of a child, intentionally obtaining for himself the sexual services of a child under the age of 18, distributing an indecent moving image of a child and making indecent images of a child.
The pair were sentenced to two years in prison at Bournemouth Crown Court on 13 April. Both were also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.

The court heard that Hayes befriended his victim in 2014. The girl was over the age of consent, but under the age of 18, meaning it is illegal to make or possess indecent images of her.

In November that year, Hayes got his victim to take part in a sex video with his friend Wright, telling the girl that the video was just for them and would not be shown to anyone else. Hayes told her that if the video got out he would be in trouble as she was under the age of 18, the court was told. After it had been recorded the victim asked the pair to delete the video.

The video was discovered to have been uploaded onto the internet around November 2015.

On 15 December 2015 both men were arrested at their home addresses. Several computers and phones were seized.

An examination of the iPhone belonging to Wright showed that there were ten video clips and 27 still images of the victim. Examination of a laptop used by Hayes showed there were 18 images of the victim which were indecent.

The pair were charged on 3 May 2016.

Detective Constable Mandy Brimicombe, of the Integrated Missing Persons & Child Sexual Exploitation Team (IMPACT), said: “Hayes and Wright exploited their victim’s vulnerability to engage in sexual acts with her. They knew full well that she was under the age of 18 when they published videos of her on the internet. This is a serious criminal offence.

“Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a crime that can affect any child, anytime, anywhere, regardless of their social or ethnic background. CSE can be carried out by individuals, by street gangs or by groups. It can be motivated by money or by sexual gratification. But in all cases, there is an imbalance of power – vulnerable children are controlled and abused by adults or by other children.

“We are determined to identify perpetrators of CSE and bring them to justice.

“If you have any concerns that a child may be a victim of CSE, please report it to the police. Visit dorset.police.uk/cse for more information and the other support organisations who can help.”

Report concerns:

Dorset Police – report online at dorset.police.uk/do-it-online or call 101. If a child is in immediate danger, dial 999.

Crimestoppers – anonymously on 0800 555 111

Local Authority Children’s Social Care: • Bournemouth: 01202 458 101 • Poole: 01202 735 046 • Dorset: 01202 228 866
Concerned about your own behaviour? Get help from ‘Stop it Now!’ by calling their confidential helpline on 0808 1000 900 or visit www.stopitnow.org.uk.