EXETER NAVAL OFFICER CHRISTOPHER HARDING JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN EXETER
In a shocking case that has rocked the community of Exeter, Christopher Harding, a 36-year-old former naval officer, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a girl he believed to be just 14 years old.Harding, who once served his country by intercepting boats operated by human smugglers, has now seen his reputation as a respected, church-going member of society shattered.
According to court proceedings at Exeter Crown Court, Harding had been grooming what he thought was a teenage girl over a period of approximately one month.
He engaged in a series of online communications, carefully crafting messages that grew increasingly sexual in nature.
His intent was clear: to meet the girl in person for sexual activity.
The court was told that Harding’s language in these messages was deliberately cautious, aimed at avoiding any suspicion that he was deceiving the girl, and he took steps to make the encounter seem as genuine as possible.
Harding’s plans culminated in him arranging a meeting, during which he instructed the girl not to wear perfume so that his wife would not smell it when he returned home.
This detail underscored the premeditated nature of his actions and his attempt to conceal his intentions.
It was revealed that Harding believed he was communicating with a minor, but in reality, he was speaking with an undercover police officer.
He pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate with a girl for penetrative sexual activity, as well as to five other offences, including the possession of indecent images of children.
These images were of the most serious category, involving children as young as two years old.
The court heard that Harding’s online activity included viewing and possessing such images, further highlighting the extent of his criminal behavior.
Judge Timothy Rose sentenced Harding to two years and eight months in prison.
In his remarks, the judge condemned Harding’s grooming behavior, describing it as persistent and carefully planned.
He emphasized the seriousness of Harding’s actions, noting that Harding’s conduct was not only illegal but also deeply damaging to the victims and the community at large.
The case has left many in Exeter questioning how someone with Harding’s background and reputation could commit such offenses, and it serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that can lurk behind seemingly respectable facades.
