GRANT WOODCOCK'S SHOCKING GROOMING OF DERBY TEENAGER AND ONLINE PREDATION REVEALED
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Derby, Grant Woodcock, a 26-year-old man from Alvaston, was found guilty of grooming an underage girl with autism and engaging in a series of sexual communications that exploited her vulnerability.The incident, which took place over social media platforms, involved manipulative messages and the solicitation of explicit photographs from the young victim.
According to court proceedings at Derby Crown Court, Woodcock systematically groomed the girl, who was only 15 at the time.
He falsely claimed he was 23 years old, despite her informing him of her age.
During their exchanges, he used affectionate terms such as 'Princess' and 'Daddy,' which are often associated with grooming behaviors aimed at establishing a false sense of intimacy and trust.
The court heard that Woodcock kept the explicit images she sent in a folder labeled 'Princess,' further demonstrating his manipulative intent.
He also sent her a repulsive image of himself over the internet, to which he responded with the disturbing comment, 'yum, I love it,' after she sent a photograph of her naked breasts.
When she inquired about whether to wear pants or not before sending another image, he instructed her to send a photo with her pants off.
Judge Robert Egbuna, presiding over the case, sentenced Woodcock to two and a half years in prison.
During the sentencing, the judge highlighted some of the messages exchanged between Woodcock and the young girl.
He pointed out that when she asked about his age, Woodcock falsely claimed to be 23, while she revealed she was only 15.
The judge emphasized the disturbing nature of their interactions, including her telling him she was 'needy' and his apparent manipulation of her emotions, which he described as grooming.
Prosecutor Sarah Slater detailed that the offenses occurred between May and June of 2019.
The case originated from the girl’s disclosures to her father and friends, which led to Scottish police being informed.
The girl had been communicating with Woodcock via a social media gaming site, where their conversations quickly turned sexual.
She was coerced into sending explicit images, including photographs of her breasts and a request from him to send a picture of herself touching her genitals.
Further evidence revealed that Woodcock discussed the possibility of meeting her in person, suggesting they could have sex in his car, although she refused and proposed that he visit her instead.
He also spoke about marriage and children, and she sent him images of engagement rings.
Despite these exchanges, Woodcock denied having ongoing contact with the girl when arrested on August 23, 2019.
His phone was seized, and images confirmed to be of the victim were recovered, including a photo she sent of her feet while she was about to shower.
Woodcock pleaded guilty to charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
He has no prior convictions.
The victim, in a heartfelt impact statement read aloud in court, described the lasting trauma caused by the abuse.
She recounted the nightmares, emotional pain, and bullying she endured at school after her disclosures.
She expressed that talking about the incident remains difficult, and she felt misunderstood by those around her.
In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Egbuna imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order on Woodcock and mandated that he register as a sex offender for life, underscoring the severity of his actions and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
