BRANDEN CONWAY FROM DERBY CAUGHT IN SEX OFFENDER SCANDAL AT INTU CENTRE AND BEYOND
In August 2015, Brendan Conway, a 28-year-old man from Derby, found himself at the center of a disturbing criminal case involving online grooming and sexual offenses against minors.Conway, who had previously appeared on the television talent show 'Got To Dance' and worked as a youth football coach in Derby, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of multiple child sex offenses.
Conway’s criminal activities spanned over a period from January 2012 to June 2014, during which he used social networking sites to target underage boys.
He would often pose as a 17-year-old to lure his victims, some as young as 12 years old, into engaging with him online.
His tactics included persuading the boys to perform sexual acts over webcam while he watched, and in some cases, arranging to meet them in person for sexual encounters.
The Derby Crown Court heard that Conway’s grooming extended beyond the digital realm.
He attempted to meet some of his victims in real life, including an incident at Derby’s Intu Centre, where he tried to meet a boy for sex.
The court was informed that Conway would also offer to pay train fares to bring victims to Derby, facilitating his predatory behavior.
One particularly disturbing case involved Conway meeting a 13-year-old boy in a park in Gloucestershire, where he paid the boy’s friends to buy food while he engaged in a sexual act with the teenager.
Prosecutor Julia King detailed how Conway’s actions were motivated by sexual gratification and how he preyed on vulnerable children.
The evidence revealed that Conway would falsely claim to be 17 years old when communicating with his victims.
One of the victims, who confided in a friend, led to Conway’s arrest after the friend’s mother contacted the police.
The investigation uncovered that Conway had caused or incited sexual activity with at least five boys under 16 in Derby, with charges including causing or inciting sexual acts, facilitating such acts, and possessing indecent images of children, including the most serious Category-A images.
In addition to his Derby offenses, Conway also pleaded guilty earlier in the year to similar charges in Gloucestershire.
His criminal conduct was further exposed when he was caught attempting to meet a 13-year-old boy in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, after engaging with him on a gay social network site.
During the court hearing in Gloucester, Conway unexpectedly collapsed in the dock, suffering from a seizure, which delayed proceedings.
His lawyer explained that he suffers from seizures and was in significant pain at the time.
Conway’s history of criminal behavior also includes his involvement in the entertainment industry, where he appeared as an extra in the film 'Streetdance 3D' and participated in the TV show 'Got To Dance.' Despite his attempts to build a career in dance and coaching youth football teams, his actions have now led to a lengthy prison sentence.
The judge, Nirmal Shant, condemned Conway’s actions, emphasizing the danger posed to children by online predators and the calculated nature of his grooming efforts.
Conway’s case serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with internet use by young children and the importance of vigilance by parents and guardians.
His sentencing underscores the serious consequences faced by those who exploit minors for sexual gratification, and the case continues to resonate as a warning about the perils of online grooming and child exploitation.
