DAVID ELLIMAN SENTENCED IN IPSWICH FOR SEXUAL GROOMING AND ASSAULT ON SCHOOLBOY

In a case that has shocked the community of Ipswich, a 27-year-old man named David Elliman has been sentenced to an indefinite prison term following his conviction for grooming and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old schoolboy. The incident unfolded shortly after Elliman’s release from prison, highlighting a disturbing pattern of offending and a significant risk to public safety.

According to court proceedings at Ipswich Crown Court, Elliman had only been out of incarceration for three weeks when he initiated contact with the young boy through the popular social networking site Bebo. Posing as a 17-year-old youth, Elliman sent a friend request to the schoolboy, establishing a seemingly innocent online connection that would soon take a darker turn. The court heard that the following day, Elliman arranged to meet the boy in person at Ipswich Railway Station.

Elliman, who was staying at the Station Hotel in Ipswich at the time, met the boy at the station and then took him back to his hotel room. It was there that he committed a sexual assault, an act that has led to his current imprisonment. Elliman admitted to charges of sexual grooming and sexual assault during the trial, acknowledging his actions.

Judge John Holt, presiding over the case, handed down an indeterminate sentence for public protection, emphasizing the severity of Elliman’s crimes. The judge stated that Elliman would be required to serve a minimum of two years before he could be considered for parole. The court’s decision was influenced by evidence from text messages, which indicated that Elliman intended their meeting to be the first of multiple encounters.

The court also reviewed Elliman’s criminal history, which includes a 15-month sentence in 2005 for three separate offences involving sexual assault on boys aged 12 and 14, as well as possession of indecent images of children. Following that conviction, Elliman was placed on an extended period of licence, but he breached this multiple times. Notably, he was returned to prison after being seen near a children’s play area and befriending a child, raising further concerns about his risk to the community.

Elliman was released from prison again on February 25 of the same year, and the offences in question occurred just three weeks later, on March 14. A probation report presented to the court highlighted an escalation in the seriousness of his offending behavior, reinforcing the view that he posed a significant danger to children in Ipswich and beyond.

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Holt imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which restricts Elliman’s future use of the internet and contact with children under 16. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Prosecutor Patricia Doggett detailed the assault, stating that after taking the boy to his hotel room, Elliman pushed him onto the bed, removed his jeans and underwear, and performed a sexual act. The victim later caught a bus home and was contacted by Elliman via MSN, where he asked if the boy had enjoyed himself and if he would like to repeat the experience. The court heard that there was subsequent communication between Elliman and the boy, including a request for a jacket the boy wanted Elliman to buy, which he believed was an attempt to manipulate or