JAMIE HERON FROM CHERRY HINTON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER TRYING TO SEXUALLY ASSAULT 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a case that has shocked the local community of Cherry Hinton, a young man named Jamie Heron, aged 20, narrowly avoided imprisonment after attempting to engage in sexual activity with a 12-year-old girl he met through online communications. The incident, which took place in November of the previous year, was detailed during a court hearing at Cambridge Crown Court, revealing the disturbing circumstances surrounding the case.

According to prosecutor Sara Walker, the girl, who cannot be publicly identified due to legal restrictions, had initially contacted Heron after being dropped off at a dance class by her mother. The girl and her mother had recently experienced a disagreement, which prompted her to seek out Heron, whom she believed to be older. Heron, who was 19 at the time, arrived at the scene with his mother to pick her up. Instead of returning home immediately, Heron took the girl back to his family residence located at Teversham Drift in Cherry Hinton.

Once there, the two spent time watching television in Heron’s room. The situation escalated when they removed most of their clothing, and Heron attempted to have sex with the girl. However, the act was unsuccessful. Following the incident, the girl left Heron’s house and went to a friend’s home. Later, she confided in her mother about what had transpired, prompting her to report the matter to the authorities.

During police interviews, Heron admitted that he believed the girl was between 15 and 16 years old. He stated that he knew she was doing her GCSEs and was learning to drive, which contributed to his mistaken assumption about her age. Heron also expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that he had done wrong. He was charged with indecent assault, a charge he admitted to, but he denied having unlawful sex with the girl, which was left unresolved on the court record.

Heron’s defense lawyer, Mark Shelley, emphasized that his client did not force himself upon the girl. He explained to the court that Heron was aware of his mistake and recognized the gravity of his actions. Shelley pointed out that Heron had not groomed the girl or used any force, and he argued that Heron was not a predatory individual. The lawyer also highlighted that Heron had never been in trouble before and that he had learned a hard lesson, which had caused distress to his family.

In sentencing, Judge Jonathan Haworth considered a pre-sentence report prepared by an experienced probation officer. The report indicated that Heron did not exhibit predatory tendencies, had not groomed the girl, and showed genuine remorse. The judge noted that Heron’s actions did not involve force or coercion and that he was unlikely to reoffend.

As a result, the judge decided against a custodial sentence. Instead, Heron was ordered to wear a four-month electronic tagging device, with a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am daily. Additionally, he was sentenced to complete 120 hours of community service, pay £100 in court costs, and was required to register as a sex offender for five years, with his name kept on the register during that period.