BRAIN BOND SENT TO PRISON IN HARTLEPOOL FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST UNDERAGE GIRL

In October 2015, a man from Hartlepool named Brian Bond was sentenced to three years in prison after engaging in a sexual relationship with a girl who was under the age of consent. The case drew significant attention due to the manner in which Bond, 26, had initially established contact with the teenager through social media.

Bond, residing on Cornwall Street in Hartlepool, had sent a friend request to the underage girl on Facebook, which she accepted. Following this online connection, Bond and the girl engaged in a series of communications, during which he used flirtatious messages and texts to flatter her, calling her attractive. The court heard that their interactions were initially consensual, but the girl was under the legal age to give such consent.

The situation escalated when Bond invited the girl to his home, where they engaged in sexual activity. Their liaison was interrupted when the girl received a phone call asking her to go babysit, which ended their meeting. The incident was eventually reported to the police, leading to Bond’s arrest. During police interviews, Bond chose not to comment on the allegations, maintaining silence at first.

Subsequently, Bond pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including meeting a child after sexual grooming and three counts of sexual activity with a minor. The court was informed of the emotional toll the incident had taken on the victim. In a victim impact statement read aloud in court, the girl described herself as now being an “emotional wreck,” afraid to leave her home and college. She explained that her once happy and confident demeanor had been replaced by feelings of anxiety and fear, highlighting the profound psychological impact of the abuse.

Judge Peter Armstrong addressed the court, condemning Bond’s actions. He pointed out that Bond had deliberately manipulated the girl through online messages and texts, which made her feel special and attractive. However, the judge emphasized that, despite her apparent consent, the girl was underage and legally incapable of giving such consent. The judge stated, “You knew that, yet proceeded for your own sexual purposes to carry out these acts.”

As a result of his convictions, Bond was sentenced to three years in prison. Additionally, he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order, which restricts him from having unsupervised contact with any child under 16 without prior approval. He is also required to notify police of his movements and will face restrictions on his internet access, aiming to prevent further offenses.

This case underscores the serious legal and moral consequences of exploiting minors through social media platforms and highlights the importance of safeguarding vulnerable young individuals from predatory behavior.