HORACE CLOSE AMBULANCE WORKER ALISTAIR HODGE SENTENCED FOR VILE ONLINE GROOMING IN SHORTSTOWN

In May 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving Alistair Hodge, a 28-year-old ambulance worker from Horace Close, Shortstown, Bedford. Hodge was convicted of heinous crimes related to the grooming and exploitation of an 11-year-old girl through social media platforms. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of manipulative behavior aimed at coercing the young girl into performing explicit sexual acts, including acts involving animals and objects, all while he recorded her actions.

Hodge’s criminal activities came to light after the victim’s parent discovered a series of sexually explicit messages exchanged between Hodge and the young girl. These messages detailed Hodge’s grooming tactics and his encouragement for her to send indecent images of herself. The court heard that although Hodge and the girl never physically met, he was actively planning to do so, indicating a disturbing intent to escalate their interactions beyond the online realm.

The offences took place over a span of just a week, from January 3 to January 10. During this period, Hodge persuaded the girl to touch herself intimately and to use various objects in sexual acts. The court was informed that his depravity reached a new low when he persuaded her to perform a sexual act involving an animal, a revelation that underscored the severity of his misconduct.

Hodge pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, one count of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and one count of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. The judge, Barbara Mensah, described his actions as 'vile and offensive' and emphasized the manipulative nature of his conduct, highlighting how the naive young girl was completely deceived and exploited.

During sentencing, Judge Mensah pointed out that Hodge had shown no remorse or regret for his actions prior to the hearing. She condemned his lack of remorse and noted that his behavior would have a lifelong impact on the victim. The court also imposed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits Hodge from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16. Additionally, any computer or electronic device under his control will be fitted with police-mandated risk management software to prevent further abuse.

Hodge was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his crimes. The judge made it clear that his actions were deeply disturbing and that his manipulative tendencies made him a significant threat to the safety of children. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.