GIOVANNI ABBONDANDLO FROM HEYWOOD CAUGHT IN CHILD GROOMING SCANDAL IN MANCHESTER

In a significant crackdown on online child exploitation, authorities have successfully apprehended Giovanni Abbondandolo, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses, following a covert operation in Heywood and Manchester. The incident underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and social workers to combat grooming and protect vulnerable children from predators operating through social media platforms.

In November of the previous year, an undercover female worker, who is actively involved in assisting victims of sexual abuse, managed to entrap Abbondandolo by posing as a 12-year-old girl on various social media networks. Her goal was to gather evidence against him and ensure he faced justice for his predatory behavior. Over a span of three weeks, Abbondandolo, aged 45, engaged in sending explicit messages and adult pornography to the decoy profile, revealing his intent to meet the fictitious girl for sexual activity at Manchester’s Piccadilly train station.

This operation was not without precedent. In 2007, Abbondandolo, then from Rochdale, was sentenced to a prison term after a mother discovered him performing a sex act via webcam on her daughter’s computer. He was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual acts in the presence of a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, leading to a sentence of six years and eight months at Manchester Crown Court.

The woman involved in the recent sting recounted her motivations to the Manchester Evening News, explaining her dedication to working with children who have been victims of abuse. She expressed her initial skepticism about the prevalence of such offenders but was motivated to act after witnessing the extent of the danger.

During her interactions with Abbondandolo, he quickly began discussing sexual topics. He inquired about her personal life, asking if she had a boyfriend, whether she wanted to be kissed, and if she wanted to engage in 'naughty' conversations about sex. Using social networks Qeep and Kik, he claimed to be involved with a 13-year-old girl and expressed a desire to meet a 12-year-old girl dressed in a short skirt and heels, even suggesting he would buy her such clothes.

This disturbing behavior echoes his past criminal record. In 2007, Abbondandolo was jailed for 15 months after Woolwich Crown Court heard he had contacted two children—a 13-year-old boy and his 12-year-old cousin—posing as a 14-year-old. The mother of the girl caught him performing a sex act on her webcam, took a photograph, and reported him to the police.

Following the recent undercover operation, Abbondandolo has been subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which is set to remain in effect indefinitely. Additionally, he has been placed on the Sexual Offenders Register for an indefinite period, reflecting the severity of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to children.

Law enforcement agencies, including the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police, collaborated closely to track down Abbondandolo after the mother’s quick thinking. She captured a clear photograph of his face on her mobile phone when he appeared on her family’s computer screen, which proved instrumental in his identification.

It was revealed that Abbondandolo was employed as a salesman for Norbain SD Ltd, a company based in Green Lane, Heywood. The firm supplies CCTV systems to educational institutions across the UK. A company spokesperson confirmed his employment at their Warrington offices but declined to comment further on his background.

The police investigation uncovered that Abbondandolo first made contact with the children on September 6, 2005, through the website Chatavenue. He pretended to be 14 years old and persuaded the girl to turn on her webcam. When she did, she quickly realized he was much older, claiming to be 28. The children identified his online alias as 'Rob 19,' which prompted the mother to intervene. She discreetly moved out of sight while Abbondandolo began making inappropriate requests, including asking the girl to show her skirt.

Alarmed by his behavior, the mother used her phone to capture his face when he started to perform a sexual act on camera. Police traced his Hotmail account to his home address in Heywood last November, leading to his arrest on November 30. During the search of his computer, authorities discovered approximately 50 images and a video clip depicting child pornography, including two images classified as level 4, the second most serious category of hardcore material.

Abbondandolo admitted to his crimes immediately upon arrest. Judge Charles Byers sentenced him to 15 months in prison, emphasizing the importance of deterrence. The judge also expressed concern over the delay in charging him, noting that although he admitted his offenses in November, formal charges were not filed until March due to prosecution errors.

In addition to his prison sentence, Abbondandolo was ordered to be subject to a five-year sex offender’s order. This order prohibits him from working with children, working unsupervised around children, or possessing a computer at his residence, aiming to prevent further offenses and protect potential victims in the future.