CHRISTOPHER WARE FROM TIVERTON SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY ONLINE BEHAVIOR IN DEVON AND BEYOND

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Christopher Ware, a 33-year-old man from St Peters Street in Tiverton, has been sentenced to prison for a series of heinous crimes involving the exploitation of young girls through social media. The offences, which spanned several years and multiple locations, highlight the dangers of online predators and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children.

Ware's criminal activities came to light after a lengthy investigation that revealed his use of deception and manipulation to target minors. Starting in January 2018, he engaged in a campaign of harassment and exploitation, primarily through Snapchat and other mobile platforms, where he adopted numerous false identities—at least 14 in total. Among these identities, Ware even pretended to be a girl on two occasions, further complicating efforts to identify him. His youngest victim was only nine years old, underscoring the severity of his predatory behavior.

During his time living near Bridgwater, Ware targeted three local girls aged 13, 14, and 15. Despite being arrested and released under investigation, he continued his malicious activities after relocating to Devon. His online pursuits extended beyond the local area, with victims across Britain falling prey to his manipulations. Ware's tactics involved convincing the girls to send him images of their faces, often accompanied by threats to publish their photographs online if they refused. He also coerced some victims into performing sexual acts on camera, recording these acts without their consent.

One particularly alarming incident involved Ware threatening to visit a 15-year-old girl’s home or school if she did not comply with his demands. He forced her to perform sexual acts while he watched via FaceTime, recording the encounter and further intimidating her. The psychological toll on the victims was profound; one girl attempted to take her own life, while others required ongoing counseling to cope with the trauma inflicted by Ware’s actions.

Throughout the proceedings, Heather Hope, prosecuting, detailed Ware’s pattern of abuse, emphasizing that his activities not only involved online threats and blackmail but also physical intimidation. Ware’s use of false identities and his repeated claims to be female were part of his strategy to lure and manipulate his victims. His actions caused significant emotional distress, with personal statements from the victims describing the shocking and dreadful impact of his crimes.

Ware’s criminal record includes causing a child to engage in sexual activity and 16 counts of sexual communication with a child. His behavior was brought to an end when police, alerted by concerned parents—including one mother who posed as her own child to trap him—tracked him down and apprehended him. His arrest led to multiple police investigations across the country, revealing the extent of his offending.

At Exeter Crown Court, Judge Timothy Rose sentenced Ware to four years and nine months in prison. Additionally, Ware was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order prohibits him from using false identities online and grants police the authority to monitor his digital activity, aiming to prevent further harm and protect other potential victims in the future.