JASON DENHOLM FROM HELSTON JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AND SNAPCHAT DELETION

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Helston, 51-year-old Jason Denholm was sentenced to prison after a series of disturbing offenses related to his attempts to engage with what he believed was a minor online. The incident unfolded in September 2023, culminating in Denholm’s appearance at Truro Crown Court where he faced multiple charges concerning his inappropriate conduct and violations of court orders.

Denholm, a resident of Church Street in Helston, was found guilty of attempting to communicate sexually with a person he thought was a young girl, as well as breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that had been previously imposed on him. The court heard that on August 3, 2023, he deliberately violated the terms of the SHPO by deleting applications such as RandoChat and Snapchat from his devices, thereby erasing his internet browsing history. This action was a direct breach of the court’s order issued on September 22, 2020, which mandated him to retain such records to prevent further misconduct.

Furthermore, on the same day, Denholm used a cloud storage service or similar digital storage to save images, failing to notify authorities within the required three-day window, another stipulation of his court-imposed restrictions. The court also established that he had attempted to communicate with a profile named NEVE on July 12, 2023, with the intent of sexual gratification. During these interactions, Denholm asked invasive questions about the girl’s age, clothing, and virginity status, clearly indicating his inappropriate intentions.

It was revealed that Denholm did not reasonably believe the individual he was communicating with was over 16 years old, which heightened the severity of his actions. The communication was explicitly sexual, with Denholm asking the decoy account if she wanted to see a photograph of his erect penis. Subsequently, he sent a graphic image of his genitals to the account, further demonstrating his misconduct.

Denholm pleaded guilty to all charges, including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor and breaching the court orders. Judge Robert Linford sentenced him to three years in prison. Additionally, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed for a period of ten years, restricting his activities and contact to prevent any future offenses. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online predatory behavior and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.