CUMBRIAN MAN ADRIAN FAMELTON SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENSES IN CARLISLE
In January 2011, Adrian Famelton, a 30-year-old former flight sergeant from Carlisle, was sentenced to three years in prison after grooming and sleeping with a 14-year-old girl.Famelton, who was part of a Cumbrian branch of the Air Training Corps, had engaged in a sexual relationship with the girl following a pattern of sexually explicit communications.
Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone revealed that Famelton sent his victim approximately 2,500 sexually explicit text messages over two months in 2010, persuading her to stay away from her family and effectively seducing her.
He continued to pursue her despite police warnings not to do so.
The court heard that in early 2011, Famelton drove the girl to Blackpool, where they had sex in his car before checking into a hotel for the night, during which he gave her alcohol.
When her family, worried about her whereabouts, reported her missing, Famelton, fearing discovery, dropped her off in a remote country lane about five miles from her home.
After being left in the countryside, the girl, upset and angry at how she was treated, contacted the police.
Judge Paul Batty QC stated, "Effectively, you were seducing her," highlighting the severity of the case.
Famelton had pleaded guilty to sexual activity with the girl after grooming her.
Carlisle Crown Court was told that he disregarded police warnings about his conduct, pursuing the relationship despite being cautioned.
During the hearing, Elizabeth Muir, representing Famelton, described him as a man of previously exemplary character who had his career in the RAF cut short due to a medical condition.
She mentioned that he had once attended St James Palace in London and was awarded the Duke of Edinburgh gold award.
Muir also expressed her client's remorse, stating he wished to apologize for the harm caused to the girl and her family, adding, "He can only put his behavior down to utter stupidity." She explained that Famelton panicked when dropping the girl off in the countryside.
In his sentencing, Judge Batty emphasized that Famelton was fully aware of the girl’s age and that his actions contained nearly every possible aggravating factor, including efforts to avoid detection by persuading the victim to lie.
The court imposed a sexual offences prevention order banning him from unsupervised contact with children, including via text or email, and ordered him to register as a sex offender.
