BRADLEY MANN BEDFORD SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED AFTER TARGETING UNDERAGE GIRL IN NORTHAMPTON

In June 2009, a Bedford-based dustman named Bradley Mann was sentenced after engaging in a disturbing pattern of sexual misconduct involving a teenage girl from Northampton. The case revealed that Mann, who was described as a 'virgin dustman,' had sent explicit text messages to a 15-year-old girl, despite having been cautioned just a month earlier for similar behavior towards another underage girl.

According to court proceedings at Northampton Crown Court, Mann never physically met the young victim. The incident came to light when the girl lent her mobile phone to a friend, who then used it to contact Mann. It was during this exchange that Mann managed to obtain her phone number. Over the course of the following days, Mann bombarded the girl with numerous calls and sexually explicit messages, which caused significant distress.

Prosecutor Stuart Yeung detailed the troubling behavior, stating, "She did not encourage the defendant but he began to ask for group sex. She was able to block the defendant from sending texts, but could not stop the telephone calls which she rejected." On July 13, 2008, Mann made a total of 53 calls to the girl, who was at a family gathering at the time. Her mother, noticing the persistent calls, contacted the police to report the incident.

During police questioning, Mann admitted to his actions, acknowledging that he knew what he was doing was wrong. He explained that he was a virgin and that his intentions were driven by a desire to have sex. Mann also confessed to inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, which led to his conviction.

It was revealed that Mann had previously been cautioned by police in Bedfordshire for similar inappropriate messages sent to a 17-year-old girl in June 2008. The police reports indicated that Mann had approached her at her gym and at the supermarket where she worked, demonstrating a pattern of predatory behavior.

Defending Mann, lawyer Maria Karaiskos argued that he was emotionally and socially immature, describing him as "a child himself." Despite this, the court imposed a community order with three years of supervision, requiring Mann to attend a sex offenders' group work program. Additionally, Mann was subjected to a three-month curfew and was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register.

Judge Charles Wide emphasized the importance of punishment and rehabilitation, stating, "The risk that you pose can be minimised by you doing this course, but you must be punished in my judgement and I can do this by imposing a curfew." The sentence aimed to both address the seriousness of Mann's actions and to reduce the potential risk he posed to the community.