CARL HODGSON, SEX OFFENDER IN MANCHESTER, SENTENCED TO TWO AND A HALF YEARS IN PRISON
A former office worker and boastful sex offender was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after he was convicted of serious crimes involving a 12-year-old girl in Manchester.Carl Hodgson, 28, met the victim on a dating app, believing she was over 19, and spent the night with her at his flat in Castlefield.
The court was told that although they did not have sexual intercourse, Hodgson committed multiple offending acts.
Hodgson filmed the girl while she wore a body stocking and took three still images of her on his phone.
He also shared indecent photos of her on social media and boasted about his conquest to friends, stating, “Mine was decent.
Nailed that bird, unreal bod,” and called her “filth” in messages.
The court heard that Hodgson shared explicit images and described the girl using demeaning terms.
Despite the nature of his offences, no evidence of rape, grooming, or child abduction was presented, and the judge ordered a formal not guilty verdict on those counts.
Hodgson pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, distributing indecent photographs of a child, and making indecent photographs of a child.
During sentencing, Judge David Stockdale QC, the Recorder of Manchester, highlighted the severity of the crimes, stating, “(The victim) was by reason of her age highly vulnerable to exploitation and she was no doubt impressed by you.
This is most serious offending as you now fully appreciate.
The effects on a child of such a young age of offending of this sort are really well known and well documented.
These effects, in many cases, last for the rest of the child's life.” The judge noted that Hodgson believed the girl was over 16, relying on her false profile stating she was 19.
Hodgson was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for life and was banned from contacting the victim.
Hodgson’s defense lawyer, Alexander Leach, argued that Hodgson’s comments were “simply male bravado and bragging,” asserting he had not had sexual intercourse with the girl.
He explained, “Effectively Carl Hodgson was not aware he was engaging in any sexual activity with a child.
He did not intend to engage in sexual activity with a child and could not have appreciated the particular vulnerability of the child, nor the disparity in age to its criminal extent.” Leach added that Hodgson was genuinely remorseful, although he acknowledged the significant impact on his life, including losing his employment and home.
The victim was examined by a psychologist and social worker and was found to be in a withdrawn state, with no clear signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, but long-term suffering was deemed inevitable.
Hodgson was also ordered to undergo registration with the Sex Offender Register for life and was prohibited from contacting the victim, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes.
