ASHLEY MOXON'S REIGN OF TERROR IN LEEDS: CONVICTED PAEDOPHILE REARRESTED AFTER FAKE FACEBOOK PROFILE REVEALS HIS TRUE IDENTITY

In a disturbing development in Leeds, a convicted paedophile named Ashley Moxon has found himself back behind bars after breaching the conditions of his early release from prison. Moxon, who was previously sentenced to six years for grooming and sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl he met through Facebook, was released on licence last September after serving only half of his sentence. His early freedom, however, was short-lived as recent events uncovered his continued attempts to conceal his identity online.

In December, Moxon created a Facebook account under the pseudonym Harry Tomas. The account featured provocative images of himself, including photos where he posed bare-chested. He also made boastful remarks on his profile wall, notably posting, “Dam [sic] I look so sexy right now,” which raised suspicions among those who knew his true identity. The father of Moxon’s young victim, who is now 12 years old, became aware of Moxon’s fake profile and was alarmed to discover that he was hiding his real identity on social media platforms.

Acting swiftly, the victim’s father contacted the police, providing them with the information needed to locate Moxon. Law enforcement officers responded promptly and executed a raid at an address in Leeds, where they arrested Moxon and took him back into custody. The police confirmed that Moxon was being recalled to prison for breaching his licence conditions, which is a serious violation of the terms set upon his early release.

The father of the young girl expressed his relief at the police’s quick action but also voiced concerns about the ongoing risks. He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “I am relieved, the police and probation service have acted swiftly. Because Moxon is on Facebook using a false name I don’t think people who talk to him on there will know he is a convicted paedophile. My daughter is never going to forget what Moxon did to her. She is under the care of a psychiatrist and she has all sorts of problems.”

Police officials confirmed the arrest, with a spokesman stating: “A 22-year-old man has been arrested for breaching his licence conditions and is being recalled to prison.”

Looking back at his criminal history, Moxon’s 2008 conviction in Leeds Crown Court revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behaviour. He used the internet to lure a 12-year-old girl into performing a sexual act, engaging in months of online communication before taking her to his home, where he assaulted her. His crimes did not stop there; he had previously received a caution for sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl just two weeks before his arrest. A jury found him guilty of oral rape of a child under 13, assault of a child under 13, and inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He was acquitted of one charge of rape, with his lawyer claiming that the girl had told him she was 14 and had consented to the encounter.

Despite his conviction, Moxon’s attempt to re-establish contact and conceal his identity online demonstrates a continued disregard for the law and the safety of minors. His case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring and controlling offenders who seek to reoffend or evade detection through social media and other online platforms.