BEN HICKS FROM GRAYS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR ONLINE SEXUAL REMARKS INVOLVING CHILDREN

In a significant case that highlights ongoing concerns about online safety and the protection of minors, Ben Hicks, a 26-year-old resident of Mill Lane in Grays, was sentenced to a total of ten years in prison following his conviction for making inappropriate and sexual remarks to individuals he believed to be children online.

The court proceedings revealed that Hicks attempted to engage in sexual communication with what he thought were underage girls. However, these individuals were actually adult members of the paedophile hunting group known as ‘Innocent Voices,’ who operate online by posing as children in order to identify and catch predators targeting minors.

Hicks was found guilty of two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. For these offences, he received a sentence of ten years, with six years to be served in prison and the remaining four years on licence. Additionally, he was given nine-month concurrent sentences for three other counts related to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and two and a half concurrent years for six counts of attempting to breach a sexual harm prevention order.

The court was informed that Hicks had previously been subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which was issued in 2015 and was set to remain in effect for five years. This order explicitly prohibited him from contacting any child under the age of 16. Despite this, Hicks continued to make sexual references to minors, which led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing.

The incidents that led to his conviction occurred on multiple dates, including December 18, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. During these times, Hicks made inappropriate sexual remarks directed at girls aged between 10 and 13. These actions were considered serious breaches of his legal restrictions and posed a significant risk to the safety and well-being of minors.

Hicks was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Monday, February 26. He had previously admitted to the offences during court proceedings that began on January 28. As part of his sentence, Hicks remains on the sex offender’s register, a measure that aims to monitor and prevent further offences of this nature. His case underscores the importance of vigilant online monitoring and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat online predatory behavior.