BRUCE CHILD FROM BEXHILL SENTENCED FOR GROOMING SCHOOLGIRL IN LEICESTER

In a significant case that has drawn considerable attention in the Bexhill community, a local man named Bruce Child has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of serious sexual offences involving minors. The incident, which unfolded in March 2017, highlights the ongoing concerns about online grooming and the safety of children in the digital age.

Bruce Child, aged 63 and residing on Jameson Road in Bexhill, was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual activities with a 12-year-old girl. The charges stemmed from an online grooming operation where Child communicated with the young girl, pretending to be someone he was not, with the intent of arranging a physical meeting. The court heard that Child had planned to meet the girl in Leicester on November 20 of the previous year, with the apparent goal of engaging in sexual acts.

During the proceedings at Hove Crown Court, Child admitted to grooming the child through online platforms. In addition to the grooming charge, he also pleaded guilty to two separate offences related to the possession of indecent images of children. These images, which were obtained from the internet, did not appear to involve any local children from the Bexhill area, providing some relief to the community concerned about local safety.

The court sentenced Child to three years in prison for the grooming offence. The sentences for the possession of indecent images—three months and six months respectively—were ordered to run concurrently with the primary sentence, meaning he will serve a total of three years. Furthermore, Child was designated as a registered sex offender for life, a status that entails ongoing monitoring and restrictions.

As part of the court's measures to prevent future offences, Child was issued a Sexual Offence Prevention Order (SOPO). This order will remain in effect until further court decision and imposes strict limitations on his access to children and computers, aiming to reduce the risk of reoffending. The investigation into Child’s activities was conducted by detectives from the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigation Unit and the force’s Complex Abuse Unit, reflecting the seriousness with which authorities treat such cases and their commitment to protecting vulnerable minors in the community.