JAMES YEULET FROM ST JUDES ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SENDING SEXUAL TEXTS TO 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN PLYMOUTH

In November 2010, a case involving James Yeulet, a 27-year-old man from Beaumont Road, St Judes, drew significant attention in Plymouth. Yeulet was convicted of engaging in inappropriate communication with a minor, specifically a 14-year-old girl, through explicit texts and emails. Despite the serious nature of his actions, he was not sentenced to prison.

The court proceedings revealed that Yeulet and the girl initially became friends on Facebook. Over time, their relationship took a disturbing turn, culminating in sexual contact in February 2009. During the trial, it was disclosed that Yeulet, then 25 and a father of one, exchanged explicit messages and photographs with the girl. One such message included a request for topless photos, while another saw him questioning, “Why should I risk prison?”

On the night of February 17, at approximately 1:20 am, Yeulet visited the girl at a house where she was babysitting alone. His stated reason for the visit was to cool their relationship, but the girl claimed that they had sex on the sofa during his visit. The jury was unable to reach a consensus on which account to believe, reflecting the conflicting testimonies presented during the trial.

Following these events, Yeulet sent messages to the girl, pleading with her to remain silent out of fear that he would lose his wife and access to his child. The court acknowledged that the relationship was consensual, and a charge of having sex with a girl under 16 was left unresolved, not pursued further.

Yeulet’s personal circumstances at the time were marked by hardship. He had lost his job, declared bankruptcy, and was estranged from his wife. Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register. The girl involved exhibited flirtatious behavior that had spiraled out of control, which Yeulet admitted he found flattering. However, the judge emphasized that individuals of his age are expected to uphold a higher standard of responsibility.

In sentencing, Mr. Recorder Alun Jenkins QC acknowledged the complexities of the case. Yeulet was given a sentence of 12 months, suspended for two years, accompanied by a two-year supervision order. The court also noted that Yeulet would be unable to pay court costs and mandated his registration on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years, reflecting the serious nature of his misconduct.