CLOUD CHUNGA SENTENCED IN LEICESTER FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING A 15-YEAR-OLD
Cloud Chunga, a 47-year-old asylum seeker residing with no fixed address in Leicester, was convicted of multiple offenses related to grooming and sexual activity with a minor.The court heard that Chunga engaged in online messaging with a 15-year-old girl, during which he sent her indecent images of himself.
He initially met her casually, but later contacted her online and engaged her in sexualized private conversations on social media.
The prosecutor, Richard Thatcher, stated: "The defendant told her he could not wait to have sex with her and until she was 18 so he could marry her." Chunga and the girl arranged to meet in Leicester, prompting her to skip school while still in her uniform.
He took her to a flat in the Beaumont Leys area where they engaged in unprotected sex.
Afterward, Chunga gave her Belgian chocolate biscuits and perfume.
Police investigation revealed that he also took topless photographs of her and images of her in bed, which were later found on his mobile phone.
Authorities were alerted to the girl’s unexplained absence from school and discovered her whereabouts at the flat.
Chunga was arrested in January and subsequently disclosed that he was HIV positive.
The girl was subjected to tests for HIV, experiencing trauma and feelings of self-blame.
An impact statement revealed she felt angry, ashamed, embarrassed, and had low self-confidence.
She described her distress, saying: "I can’t believe someone would be so selfish, that someone would risk giving that to someone else." Thankfully, her tests returned negative for HIV.
During sentencing, Clare Dowse, representing Chunga, explained that he had been in the UK since 2001 for studies, later applying for refugee status, which remains unresolved.
At the time of the offenses, he lacked a permanent residence, staying with acquaintances, relying on church and friends for support.
Dowse characterized the crimes as an aberration.
Judge Robert Brown addressed the court and the defendant, noting: "The pre-sentence report indicates he struggles to see her as a victim, despite knowing she was a vulnerable child." He emphasized the gravity of Chunga’s actions, stating: "He had unprotected sex with a 15-year-old girl knowing he was HIV positive, without informing her.
He presents a high risk of harm to young girls.
It is irrelevant whether she consented; she was underage, vulnerable, and you took advantage of her." Chunga was sentenced to six years in prison, with an additional four-year license period.
He must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
The court also imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, and he will be on the sex offender register for life.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Darren Etteridge commented: "Despite knowing the victim was 15, Chunga continued to groom and engage in sexual activity exploiting her vulnerability.
The evidence was overwhelming, leading to his guilty plea.
While this spares the victim from testifying, her experience remains with her.
Her bravery in engaging with us has been crucial in bringing this case to a successful conclusion, and I hope she can eventually move past what happened to her."
