CRAIG CONEY SENTENCED IN WILTSHIRE FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A man with a troubling history as a sex offender has been handed a significant prison sentence after being convicted of sexually exploiting a teenage girl in Wiltshire.Craig Coney, aged 37, who has no fixed address but is known to have been residing in Devizes, was found guilty of engaging in a series of sexual activities with a girl who was only 15 years old.
Over a period exceeding six months, Coney groomed the young girl, establishing a relationship that was characterized by manipulation and exploitation.
The court heard that he treated her as if they were in a romantic relationship, despite her age and vulnerability.
The grooming process involved multiple instances of sexual contact, with Coney committing at least five acts of penetrative sexual activity on the girl on no fewer than 13 separate occasions.
The trial, which took place at Salisbury Crown Court, culminated on December 20, 2024, with Coney being sentenced to nine years in prison.
The severity of the sentence reflects the gravity of his actions and the breach of trust involved in exploiting a minor.
In addition to his prison term, Coney is now subject to strict legal restrictions designed to prevent further harm.
He is required to register as a sex offender and is under an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
This order explicitly prohibits him from making any contact with the victim and bars him from having any unsupervised contact with females under the age of 16.
These measures aim to protect the community and prevent any future offenses by Coney, who remains under close legal supervision.
