BRAD KEEGAN FROM SUNDERLAND SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND SOCIAL MEDIA ABUSE
In November 2019, a disturbing case emerged involving a man from Sunderland who engaged in heinous acts against a young girl, culminating in his conviction and sentencing.The individual, identified as Brad Keegan, was found guilty of multiple serious offences related to the exploitation and abuse of a minor, including the distribution of explicit images and sexual activity with a child.
According to court proceedings, Keegan, then aged 19, had persuaded a teenage girl to send him explicit photographs of herself.
The girl, who was underage at the time, reluctantly complied with his demands, believing that he had deleted the images afterward.
However, the situation worsened when Keegan pressured her into engaging in sexual activity, allegedly threatening to 'kick off' if she refused to comply.
The girl’s distress was compounded by the fact that her private images were later shared publicly on social media platforms, causing her significant embarrassment and humiliation.
The case came to light after the girl fell out with a friend, who then requested the images from Keegan.
He sent the photographs to her friend, who subsequently posted them on social media.
The victim and her family became aware of the images' circulation when her brother saw them and informed their father.
The family promptly reported the matter to the police.
It was later revealed that Keegan had also posted some of the images on an Instagram page, which was subsequently reported and taken down from the internet.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the teenage girl expressed her fear and distress, stating, "I was frightened because he had the pictures of me and I was scared he would show them.
I felt trapped.
My fears were justified.
I feel totally embarrassed and humiliated by him." Brad Keegan, of Pamersville Square in Sunderland, pleaded guilty to charges including having sexual activity with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and making indecent images of a child.
The court was informed that Keegan was 19 at the time of the offences but had falsely claimed to the victim that he was two years younger.
Recorder Alistair MacDonald QC sentenced Keegan to five and a half years in prison, with a lifelong requirement to register as a sex offender.
Additionally, he was handed a 10-year restraining order to prevent any contact with the victim.
The judge emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating, "The shocking fact of this matter is that as a result of a fall out between her and one of her friends, the friend, through you, got hold of indecent photographs of her and they were posted on the internet.
I can’t imagine what distress she must have felt in relation to that.
But you also posted indecent photographs of her on the internet, which is a vile and wicked thing to do and a very serious element of this offending." The court underscored the importance of strict punishment to deter similar offences in the future, highlighting the need for justice and protection for vulnerable victims from predatory individuals like Keegan.
