JAMES FROST FROM LINCOLN AND SHEFFIELD SENTENCED FOR CHILD GROOMING AND DRUG DEALING

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Lincoln and Sheffield, James Frost, aged 29, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after a series of heinous crimes involving child exploitation and drug distribution. The case, which uncovered a pattern of predatory behavior spanning over two years, revealed Frost’s calculated efforts to target vulnerable young girls through online platforms.

Frost, who was found to have no fixed address but originally resided in the village of Witham St Hughs near Lincoln, engaged in a campaign of grooming that involved deceit, manipulation, and exploitation. His actions came to light after investigations revealed that he had contacted at least 16 girls aged between 12 and 17, between June 2011 and August 2013. These interactions were characterized by a disturbing combination of flattery, coercion, and insults, which he used to manipulate his victims into sending him indecent photographs of themselves.

Prosecutor Mark Van der Zwart detailed that Frost employed false identities, including profile pictures of young boys, to conceal his true age and intentions. On one occasion, he falsely claimed to be a 12-year-old boy, using a picture of a young boy to support his fabricated identity, in an attempt to gain the trust of a girl of the same age. Despite being arrested and released on police bail, Frost continued his online contacts with these young girls, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of his victims.

The criminal activities extended beyond online grooming. Frost supplied illegal drugs, including cocaine, ketamine, and cannabis, to some of the girls he targeted. He also engaged in sexual activities with at least one of the victims, and encouraged others to engage in sexual acts, some of which were witnessed by the victims. Evidence recovered from his mobile phones included indecent photographs of the girls, further implicating him in the abuse.

Frost faced multiple charges, including seven counts of inciting child pornography, five counts of causing child abuse images, sexual activity with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act, inciting a child to engage in sexual acts, and possession of indecent photographs of children. Additionally, he admitted to 13 charges related to supplying drugs, including cocaine, ketamine, and cannabis, and possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Michael Heath emphasized the gravity of Frost’s offenses. He stated, “On any view, this is a very serious case. You supplied drugs to seven of those girls. You had sexual intercourse with one of them, and you incited or caused 11 of those girls to send you indecent images of themselves. You groomed or sought to groom all of them to a varying extent and used a variety of methods.”

Following the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Rick Hatton of Lincolnshire Police’s Public Protection Unit expressed his concerns about the case’s complexity and the profound impact on the victims. He highlighted Frost’s use of aliases and online manipulation as particularly troubling, warning the public about the dangers of online interactions with strangers. Detective Hatton urged caution and advised individuals not to send photos or engage with unknown persons online, emphasizing the importance of online safety.

Frost’s actions have left a lasting scar on the victims, some as young as 12, and the case underscores the importance of vigilance in protecting children from online predators. The court’s decision to impose a life-long registration on Frost as a sex offender reflects the seriousness with which the justice system views such offenses, aiming to prevent further harm and safeguard the community from future offenses.