HERNE BAY MAN DAVID WARRENER GROOMS AND SEXUALLY ABUSES 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL NEAR BRIGHTON
In February 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving a man from Herne Bay in Kent, identified as David Warrener, who engaged in a calculated and predatory pattern of grooming a young girl online before sexually abusing her.Warrener, aged 25 at the time, exploited digital platforms to manipulate and deceive his victim, a 13-year-old girl, by pretending to be a peer and establishing a false sense of trust over more than a year.
He used the messaging and video app 'ooVoo' to carry out his grooming activities, during which he falsely claimed to be a 15-year-old boy.
Warrener's manipulative tactics included warning the girl that she could face legal consequences if she disclosed their interactions, specifically telling her that she could go to prison if she revealed what had transpired.
The grooming escalated to physical encounters when Warrener traveled from Kent to Brighton, a seaside city known for its vibrant community and popular parks.
In August 2016, he drove to Brighton and met the girl near Preston Park.
There, in his car, Warrener engaged in sexual activity with her on three separate occasions.
These encounters marked a grave breach of trust and a serious criminal offense.
Following the incidents, Warrener continued to communicate with the girl through messages, further attempting to intimidate her into silence by warning her of potential legal repercussions if she contacted the authorities.
Despite his efforts to silence her, the girl reported the abuse shortly after the last incident, which led to Warrener's swift identification and arrest.
Extensive investigations linked Warrener's 'ooVoo' account to his residential address in Kent, ultimately leading to his conviction.
His sentencing took place at Lewes Crown Court, where he received a custodial sentence of four years and eight months.
Additionally, Warrener was placed on the sex offenders register for life and subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
This order imposes strict restrictions on his access to children and his use of computers, aiming to prevent any future harm.
During the sentencing, Judge Christine Laing QC emphasized the severity of Warrener's actions, stating, 'This girl was deliberately groomed by you and she thought you were 15-years-old.
This was no momentary lack of judgment and a particularly aggravating feature was messaging her after the offence that if she told anyone she would go to a young person’s jail.' The case highlights the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from predators.
