DARLINGTON MAN CALLUM HOPE JAILED FOR FIVE YEARS OVER ONLINE GROOMING OF SCHOOLGIRLS
In October 2017, a man from Darlington, Callum Hope, was sentenced to five years in prison after grooming three schoolgirls online.The court heard that Hope targeted the girls on Facebook by creating fake profiles.
The 20-year-old, who was 18 at the time, continued to contact one girl even after she told him she was only 12.
Prosecutor Harry Hadfield explained that Hope contacted her privately through a messenger service, initiating the conversation with greetings and a kiss.
This led to further exchanges before he asked for her mobile number.
During their chats, the girl repeatedly told him she was 12, Mr.
Hadfield stated.
The girl’s mother discovered the communication, including Hope's request for her daughter to meet him, prompting her to report the incident to police.
Detective Constable Mick Trodden arrested Hope, seizing his mobile devices for examination.
Experts found indecent images of children on the devices.
When questioned about these images, Hope was charged with possession of indecent images of children, while investigations into his online chats continued.
Around the same time, officers from North Yorkshire approached Detective Trodden with concerns about a 13-year-old girl who had been contacted by two males on Facebook, using profiles named Kyle Manning and Cameron Price.
An initial investigation revealed that Hope was behind these profiles, and similar messages had been exchanged.
Hope admitted to creating these fake accounts and communicating with the girl.
In July of the previous year, Cleveland Police learned more about the case after the mother of an 11-year-old girl found inappropriate messages on her daughter’s phone from someone calling himself Cameron Price, who had also arranged to meet her.
Mr.
Hadfield confirmed that explicit messages had been exchanged, leading to Hope’s re-arrest.
Hope, of Aldgrove Way in Darlington, pleaded guilty to five charges: causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and possessing indecent images of children.
