DAVID STOTT FROM TODMORDEN JAILED FOR GROOMING BOYS ON FACEBOOK IN BRADFORD

In April 2014, a disturbing case involving a convicted sex offender from Todmorden came to light, highlighting the ongoing dangers posed by individuals who exploit social media platforms to target vulnerable minors. David Stott, a 28-year-old man with a distinctive appearance characterized by his beard and glasses, was sentenced to more than three years in prison after engaging in a calculated scheme to groom young boys online.

Stott adopted the false identity of a female nurse on Facebook, a tactic he used to lure underage boys into sharing explicit images. His deception was carefully crafted to appear convincing, with the intent of manipulating minors into sending indecent photographs of themselves. The court heard that his actions were not impulsive but part of a deliberate pattern of predatory behavior.

The case came to the attention of authorities when a mother of a 14-year-old boy discovered a message on her son's social media account. The message, which requested a naked photograph of her son, was traced back to Stott’s fake profile. Prosecutor Simon Waley explained to Bradford Crown Court that the communication was designed to give the impression that the sender was a female nurse interested in exchanging sexual images. This manipulation was confirmed when Stott sent the boy an image of a topless woman, claiming it was the nurse, prompting the boy to respond with a topless photo of himself.

The police investigation into Stott’s online activities began in 2011, but it was a lengthy process due to his use of false details when creating his social media account. It was only after police visited his residence in White Hart Fold, Todmorden, at the end of 2011 that they were able to seize his computer equipment. The forensic examination revealed a disturbing collection of over 70 indecent images of children, along with two videos depicting sexual acts between young boys.

Stott’s criminal history included a previous conviction from November 2006, when he received a five-month suspended sentence for downloading child abuse images. He was also subject to a five-year sexual offences prevention order at that time. However, his subsequent actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of minors.

Following his arrest in 2011, Stott admitted to one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and 12 charges related to possessing indecent images and videos of children. His behavior was further condemned by the court, which sentenced him to a total of 37 months in prison. Additionally, a new sexual offences prevention order was imposed, which will now remain in effect indefinitely. This order includes a ban on accessing social networking sites, aiming to prevent further online predation.

Judge Peter Benson emphasized that Stott’s offending was aggravated by his prior conviction and his blatant violation of the existing prevention order. The judge noted that Stott had targeted multiple boys, using the guise of a female nurse to solicit explicit images. “You incited him essentially to send you photographs of him naked and in order to entice him to do that you sent an image of a topless female you obtained from the internet saying that was a picture of you,” Judge Benson stated.

Stott’s criminal activities have resulted in a lifelong obligation to register as a sex offender with the police, a requirement that will follow him upon his release from prison. His case underscores the ongoing risks associated with online grooming and the importance of vigilance among parents and guardians to protect minors from predators operating through social media platforms.