BERNARD BEACOCK FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE RECEIVES SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR GROOMING AND ASSAULT ON UNDERAGE GIRL

A man from North Lincolnshire, Bernard Beacock, aged 37, was given a suspended jail sentence on Friday after admitting to meeting an underage girl following grooming her. Beacock was apprehended after his former partner grew suspicious of his behavior and changed his Instagram password to access his messages.

The court was told that messages revealed Beacock had been in contact with a teenage girl under 15 and was making sexual advances towards her. He encouraged her to remove her clothing and appeared to be deriving sexual satisfaction from the situation, the Lincoln Crown Court heard.

Police arrested Beacock as he was leaving his home, and they discovered that the girl had also been present at his address during the investigation.

Initially, during police interviews, Beacock denied any wrongdoing but later admitted to communicating via social media with the girl when it was suggested that his phone could be examined.

Beacock, who lives on St Bernard Close in North Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to charges of causing or inciting a child under 15 to engage in sexual activity and meeting a child following grooming.

In his defense, Noel Philo, representing Beacock, told the court that his client had entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and had no previous convictions. "He is a remorseful and contrite man who is questioning why he committed these acts," Mr. Philo said.

The court was informed that Beacock has been employed since leaving school and that his employers were aware of his upcoming court hearing.

Sentencing, Recorder Simon King emphasized the seriousness of the offences, stating, "You should be under no illusion that people who do what you did often receive custodial sentences." However, he also noted that Beacock had been assessed as a low risk of future offending by the Probation Service.

Considering this assessment, the judge decided that community supervision would be a more appropriate course of action. Beacock was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 40 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement. Additionally, he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.