DARRYL JENKINS SENTENCED IN MEVAGISSAY FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING ONLINE GROOMING AND NUDITY

In July 2021, a disturbing case unfolded in Mevagissey involving Darryl Jenkins, a 39-year-old man who was convicted of serious offenses related to online child exploitation. Jenkins appeared before Truro Crown Court to face charges stemming from his inappropriate and illegal communications with a girl he believed was only 14 years old. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of grooming, sexual coercion, and the distribution of explicit images, all carried out through digital platforms.

Prosecutor Daniel Pawson-Pounds detailed how Jenkins initially engaged with the girl on the dating website Mingle2. During their online interactions, Jenkins was told by the girl that she was 14, while he falsely claimed to be 37. Despite this, Jenkins continued to pursue the conversation, requesting to move their communication to WhatsApp and asking for her phone number. Over the course of approximately 13 days, Jenkins engaged in what was described as classic grooming behavior, gradually building the girl’s confidence and establishing a seemingly innocent rapport.

However, the tone of their exchanges quickly shifted towards sexual content. Within just a few days, Jenkins began to ask for explicit photographs, expressing a desire to date her and repeatedly requesting selfies. He then sent a photograph of himself, which was partially obscured by bedding, but clearly showed his genital area. Jenkins also asked the girl to send images of herself in her pajamas and went as far as to send a graphic image of his erect penis to her. Despite her reluctance, he persisted in requesting video chats, which she refused.

As the conversations progressed, Jenkins made increasingly explicit demands. He told her he was aroused and asked for her to give him a 'helping hand,' providing graphic descriptions of what he wanted her to do. He also sent videos depicting women performing oral sex on men, claiming he was trying to 'teach her.' Jenkins encouraged her to masturbate and share details about her activities, all while instructing her to keep their interactions secret and to delete any messages or images he sent. At one point, he invited her to his home, suggesting she could lie to her mother about staying at a friend's house.

Despite growing suspicion that she might be a decoy or law enforcement operative, Jenkins remained undeterred. He even invited her to take a shower with him and expressed a desire for her to be his girlfriend. The situation escalated when he was arrested at his residence in Mevagissey, following the intervention of paedophile hunters who appeared at his door.

During the court hearing, Judge Simon Carr addressed Jenkins directly, acknowledging his guilty plea and the seriousness of his actions. The judge emphasized that Jenkins had been aware from the outset that the girl was 14, yet he continued to pursue and escalate the sexual nature of their communications. The judge highlighted the significant age gap of 23 years and condemned Jenkins for his grooming behavior, which included requesting explicit images, sharing adult pornography, and attempting to incite the girl to engage in sexual acts.

Judge Carr also noted Jenkins’ prior reputation as a man of 'good character' and acknowledged his early admission of guilt, which earned him some credit. However, he pointed out that a mental health report indicated Jenkins suffers from severe depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. Despite this, the judge clarified that such factors did not mitigate the severity of the offenses.

Ultimately, Jenkins was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. The court deemed the offenses so grave that a suspended sentence was deemed inappropriate. Additionally, Jenkins was placed on the sex offenders register for life and subjected to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), which restricts his access to children and the internet to prevent further harm.