CHRISTOPHER WARE AND HIS SHOCKING ONLINE CRIMES IN HOLSWORTHY AND EXETER

A man identified as Christopher Ware has been sentenced to prison for a series of disturbing online offenses involving the grooming and intimidation of young girls through social media platforms, primarily Snapchat. Ware, aged 32, engaged in a calculated campaign of deception, manipulation, and threats aimed at minors, which has left a trail of emotional trauma and fear among his victims.

Ware’s criminal activities spanned over several years, during which he created multiple fake accounts on various social media sites. He deliberately lied about his age, sometimes claiming to be a teenager himself, and at other times pretending to be a girl in order to gain the trust of his victims. His primary targets were girls aged between nine and 15, whom he initially approached with friendly messages before gradually escalating to demands for explicit images.

The predator’s tactics involved a pattern of initial friendliness followed by coercion. When the girls refused to send nude pictures, Ware resorted to blackmail, revealing that he knew personal details about their lives, such as the schools they attended and their home addresses. He threatened to publicly shame them by posting their images and personal information online, thereby exerting psychological pressure and fear.

The investigation into Ware’s activities was initiated after one victim and the mother of another girl uncovered clues that led authorities to track him down. The police were able to identify Ware through digital evidence and the information provided by the victims’ families. A judge at Exeter Crown Court acknowledged the efforts of the parents and children who cooperated with law enforcement, emphasizing their crucial role in bringing Ware to justice.

During the court proceedings, Judge Timothy Rose condemned Ware’s actions, stating, "You wrought a campaign of intrusion and influence in children's lives. You bombarded them with sexualised comments, requests and demands and threats of blackmail." Ware, who was appearing via video link from custody, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison. He pleaded guilty to 15 charges, including engaging in sexual communication with children under 16, attempting to do so, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

The timeline of Ware’s offenses stretches back to early 2018. Prosecutor Ms. Heather Hope detailed that between January and July of that year, Ware contacted a 15-year-old girl on Snapchat under the false alias Ashley Page. The girl did not recognize the name but accepted the friend request, unaware of Ware’s true intentions. He immediately began demanding nude images, and despite her attempts to block him, Ware persisted by creating new accounts and using different aliases. He falsely claimed to be 23, then 18, and finally 15, continuing to send messages even when she was at school, asking invasive questions about her underwear and sharing images of women.

The girl eventually felt so threatened that she complied and sent nude photographs of herself. Ware’s pattern of harassment extended to other girls as well. He targeted a 13-year-old on Snapchat, claiming to be 14, and after she blocked him, he continued messaging her through alternate accounts, asking if she was bisexual. Using clues from the messages, she managed to identify Ware, which led to his arrest at Bridgwater.

Further investigations revealed that Ware had been searching for indecent videos of teenage girls on his computer. Police found evidence of multiple other victims, including a 14-year-old girl inundated with requests for explicit images. Ware even sent her a photo of himself on the toilet with his trousers down, exposing himself. When she blocked him, he impersonated a schoolgirl, but she recognized him due to distinctive orange-colored walls in the images. Ware then issued threats, claiming he knew her address, which caused her to confide in her mother, prompting police intervention.

Despite being released on bail, Ware continued his offending behavior. In August 2020, he falsely posed as a 16-year-old boy and contacted a 14-year-old girl, offering money in exchange for nude images and sending a picture of his bank card. He threatened to publicly reveal her images if she refused to comply.

Some victims reported that Ware had sent explicit images of himself, including one girl who described his penis as “proper small.” When one mother discovered Ware’s demands, she took control of her daughter’s phone, pretended to be her, and gathered information that led to his arrest.

Ware’s youngest victim was only nine years old when he began asking her about her bra size and telling her to show her pants. Despite her refusals, he continued to intimidate and pressure her.

His arrest on November 16, 2021, involved police forcibly entering his home after he barricaded himself in his bedroom. The court heard victim impact statements from several girls and their parents, many of whom described suffering from anxiety, depression, and distrust following Ware’s actions. One parent expressed anger and confusion, noting that their daughter had retreated into her room and now suffers from severe anxiety. Another parent said his daughter had become distrustful of men.

The court heard that some victims had attempted to take their own lives due to the trauma inflicted by Ware. One girl recounted feeling so scared that she felt out of control and unable to tell anyone about her ordeal, but was ultimately grateful her family intervened.

Defense attorney Mr. Will Rose highlighted Ware’s previously good character and denied that he had any sexual interest in children. He acknowledged Ware’s guilty pleas, which spared the victims from testifying at trial, and expressed remorse for his actions. Rose explained that Ware’s troubled background, including a broken home and a strained relationship with his father, contributed to his downward spiral, which was exacerbated by alcohol abuse.

Judge Rose emphasized the severity of Ware’s misconduct, criticizing his continued offending even after arrest and interview. He pointed out that Ware’s actions caused significant and lasting harm to the victims, often resorting to threats and blackmail to fulfill his sexualized desires. The judge noted that the maximum sentence for the sexual communication offenses was two years, but Ware’s guilty pleas allowed for a reduction of one-third.

In conclusion, Judge Rose commended the bravery of the victims and their families for coming forward and assisting police in their investigation. He underscored the importance of their resolve in ensuring justice was served, acknowledging the profound impact Ware’s crimes have had on their lives.