GRAHAM HUNTINGTON FROM PETERLEE JAILED FOR GROOMING SCHOOLGIRL IN DURHAM

In February 2017, a disturbing case unfolded involving Graham Huntington, an unemployed man from Peterlee, who was convicted of grooming a 14-year-old schoolgirl for sexual purposes. The incident came to light during a court hearing at Durham Crown Court, where Huntington admitted to multiple sexual offences related to his predatory behavior.

It was revealed that Huntington had a personal connection to the victim's family, as he was friends with the girl’s father. Taking advantage of this relationship, he added the girl on Facebook, establishing a digital connection that would later be exploited for his own perverted motives. Over a period of time, Huntington engaged in numerous messaging exchanges with the young girl, gradually grooming her through persistent communication and manipulation.

The situation escalated when Huntington lured the girl and a group of her friends, all aged 14, to his flat. He made false promises of providing alcohol and drugs to the teenagers, enticing them to come over. Once at his residence, Huntington supplied the girls with intoxicating substances, which left them vulnerable and under the influence. It was during this state of intoxication that he demanded sexual acts from the girls, using the promise of further alcohol and drugs as leverage to coerce them into compliance.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Huntington was fully aware of the minors’ ages, yet he continued his actions to satisfy his own sexual gratification, showing a blatant disregard for their safety and well-being. His behavior was characterized by predatory intent and a calculated effort to exploit the vulnerability of young teenagers.

Following his guilty plea, Huntington was sentenced to a total of 15 months in prison. The court also mandated that he register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes. Additionally, he was ordered to pay court costs amounting to £140 and was placed under a sexual harm prevention order, which will remain in effect until further notice, to prevent any future offenses and protect the community from potential harm.