JOHN SNAITH FROM COLNE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In July 2006, a disturbing case unfolded involving John Snaith, a middle-aged man from Colne, who was sentenced to an eight-month jail term after engaging in heinous online activities with a young girl. The court heard that Snaith, a married man employed at a slaughterhouse, had manipulated a 14-year-old girl into performing sexual acts over the internet via webcam, under false pretenses.

Burnley Crown Court was informed that Snaith, who was 50 years old at the time, had convinced the girl that he was approximately 18 years old. His deception was part of a pattern of sexually explicit communication that spanned several months, from June to December 2004. During this period, he engaged in numerous conversations with the girl, which the court described as highly inappropriate and explicit. Snaith had also downloaded child pornography and maintained a vulgar email address, further evidencing his disturbing online behavior.

When police executed a search warrant at Snaith’s residence in Colne in February of the following year, they uncovered a cache of illegal material. The search was prompted by information received about his computer usage. At the time, Snaith was not at home; his wife and son were present, and he was later arrested at his workplace. Authorities found that he had downloaded 29 indecent images of children and that he was an active user of internet chatrooms, where he engaged in sexually explicit discussions.

The investigation traced the girl’s account back to Snaith, revealing that their online interactions began in March 2004. At that time, Snaith was 48 years old but pretended to be a much younger individual, convincing the girl that he was an 18-year-old boy. The girl was clear in her communication, stating she was only 14, yet Snaith continued to pursue the relationship. Their online chats typically started around 4:30 p.m. after school and his workday, during which he asked her to expose her breasts and private parts via webcam. The girl complied, and Snaith also requested and received explicit sexual acts from her on camera.

Further details revealed that Snaith asked the girl to reveal himself on his webcam, but he often made excuses, claiming technical issues. Concerning the downloaded images, Snaith initially claimed he was searching for Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” music video, and accidentally came across the child pornography. He later admitted that curiosity led him to view more serious images, acknowledging his actions out of curiosity rather than sexual arousal. He also admitted to visiting chatrooms to discuss sex, primarily with women over 18, but he was aware that the girl was under 16, having seen her on the webcam.

During sentencing, Judge Alan Taylor described Snaith’s conversations with the girl as “smutty” and “filthy,” emphasizing that at 50 years old, he should have been ashamed of his conduct. The judge pointed out that although the girl may have been willing to pose indecently, she was only 14 and had been deceived by Snaith’s manipulations. As a result, Snaith was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

Prosecutor Miss Sarah Statham outlined the timeline of events, noting that police’s investigation began after receiving information about Snaith’s computer. The search uncovered explicit material directed at an underage girl, leading to her statement and the subsequent charges. Snaith’s defense attorney, Mr. Tim Ashmole, argued that although Snaith had the opportunity to meet and groom the girl, he did not act on these opportunities. He emphasized that Snaith, who had worked in the slaughterhouse industry for 32 years, was not sexually aroused by the child pornography he viewed. His wife expressed her shame and disgust over his actions.

In conclusion, the case highlighted the ease with which individuals can access illegal content and engage in harmful online behavior. Mr. Ashmole pointed out the deficiencies in internet regulation, noting that a simple search for “Lolita” could yield thousands of images, raising concerns about the effectiveness of search engine policing and internet safety measures.