BRIDLINGTON MAN JAMES KIZILKARA SENTENCED AFTER SENDING SCHOOLGIRL SEXUAL PICTURES IN HULL

In March 2017, a disturbing case unfolded involving James Kizilkara, a 24-year-old man from Bridlington, who was convicted of sending explicit images to a 14-year-old schoolgirl. The incident took place while Kizilkara was employed at a takeaway in Withernsea, a seaside town not far from Bridlington. Prosecutors revealed that Kizilkara was aware of the girl’s age because he had seen her in her school uniform, which confirmed she was of school age.

According to court reports, Kizilkara engaged in a series of inappropriate messages with the young girl via Facebook Messenger. Initially, his messages appeared to be relatively benign, with him mentioning that he had recently broken up with his girlfriend and describing his feelings as “sucked.” However, the tone quickly shifted as he began sending her several sexual images of himself. These images, which appeared to have been taken while he was in the bath and in his bedroom, caused the girl to feel “disgusted” and “perturbed.”

The girl, distressed by the explicit content, showed the images to her father, who was also appalled by the situation. Her father then contacted the police to report the matter. Prosecutor Charlotte Baines emphasized that there were elements of grooming involved in Kizilkara’s conduct, highlighting the manipulative nature of his actions.

It was established that Kizilkara was fully aware of the girl’s age and her status as a school pupil. Despite this, he continued to communicate with her and sent the explicit images, which led to his arrest in Sheffield. During police interviews, Kizilkara claimed he believed the girl was between 16 and 17 years old and admitted that he had not checked her Facebook profile picture to verify her age.

He was charged with causing a child to watch a sexual act for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification. Kizilkara, who represented himself in court, pleaded guilty to three counts of this offence. The court proceedings took place at Hull Crown Court, where the victim attended with her parents to witness the sentencing.

Judge David Tremberg addressed Kizilkara directly, asking if he had anything to say in mitigation. The defendant expressed remorse, stating, “I’m just sorry it happened in the first place. It wasn’t a planned thing, it wasn’t a continuous thing. It was just, I dunno, summat I can’t take back, but summat that can never happen again.” He also acknowledged the seriousness of his actions, saying, “Oh yeah. Without doubt,” when asked if he understood how seriously the courts treat such offences.

The judge condemned Kizilkara’s behaviour, noting that he had deliberately sought to blur the boundaries of appropriate conduct with a minor for sexual gratification. He praised the girl for her presence of mind in reporting the incident, which potentially prevented further harm and spared her from more severe consequences. The court recognized her courage in coming forward.

As a result, Kizilkara was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, he is required to attend the Northumbria sex offenders programme and undergo up to 50 days of rehabilitation. He must also register as a sex offender for seven years and adhere to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent any future offences.