JAMES BOWTELL LEICESTER MAN GROOMS 14-YEAR-OLD FOR SEX IN LEICESTER

In June 2012, a disturbing case emerged involving James Alexander Bowtell, a 31-year-old man from Leicester, who was convicted of grooming a 14-year-old girl for sexual activity. The court heard that Bowtell engaged in a series of inappropriate and manipulative behaviors aimed at exploiting the young girl, whom he met through an acquaintance in Leicester.

Over a period spanning from July to September, Bowtell was involved in five sexual encounters with the minor. During this time, he dictated her clothing choices and referred to her using derogatory language, including calling her a "slut." His actions demonstrated a calculated effort to control and manipulate the girl, fostering a false sense of trust and comfort that ultimately led to sexual exploitation.

At Leicester Crown Court, Judge Michael Pert QC sentenced Bowtell to four years in prison. The judge condemned his conduct, stating, "It involved repeated sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl, with and without contraception. You have taken advantage of a child. You were the older man and offered her comfort and confidence. Your text messages were disgusting. You groomed her to be your sexual plaything. It’s a bad example of the worst category of this offence."

In addition to his prison sentence, Bowtell was subjected to several restrictions aimed at preventing future offenses. He was banned from working with children and placed under a sex offender prevention order. This order limits his access to computers and bans him from having unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16. Furthermore, he is required to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Prosecutor Adrienne Lucking provided further details, explaining that Bowtell initially met the girl through a mutual acquaintance in Leicester. Following their meeting, he exchanged explicit and pornographic text messages with her, encouraging her to send intimate photographs. She emphasized that there was no romantic pretense in their communication, and Bowtell's messages were overtly sexual.

The girl’s family discovered some of these messages on her phone, which prompted them to alert the police. During police interviews, the girl admitted that she had gone along with Bowtell’s advances after receiving his sexual messages. She also revealed that she became emotionally dependent on him, feeling that if she did not comply with his wishes, she would face withdrawal of his affection.

Felicity Gerry, representing Bowtell, expressed remorse on his behalf, stating, "He’s genuinely sorry for the agony he’s put the parents through. Both the defendant and complainant say they just got carried away. It was his responsibility, and he’s the adult. He’s of average intelligence, but there’s no suggestion he doesn’t understand he’s done wrong."

Despite the serious nature of his crimes, references provided in court described Bowtell as "honest, trustworthy, caring, courteous, and pleasant," highlighting a complex picture of his character. Nonetheless, the court’s primary concern remained the protection of vulnerable minors and the severity of his misconduct in Leicester.