PAEDOPHILE JAILED FOR GROOMING AND ABUSING GIRLS ON SNAPCHAT
Joseph Chapman, also known by his Snapchat handle 'PJ', is a dangerous and manipulative paedophile who groomed young girls online and then sexually assaulted them in his car.His heinous actions came to light when the mother of one of the victims found an entry in her diary from January 2023 mentioning meeting 'PJ the Pedo'.
The mother discovered packaging for disposable vapes in her daughter's room while cleaning in March 2023 and learned from her daughter that they had been given to her by an older man.
The girl also disclosed that Chapman had sexually assaulted her in his car the previous November, noting she was able to record the car's registration number.
Chapman had also contacted her friend on Snapchat, asking her to meet him and requesting a photo of her in her school uniform, which she refused.
Further disclosures from another girl, who kept a diary noting meetings with Chapman and receipt of vapes, revealed that he had sexually assaulted her on two occasions in his car.
Chapman was arrested in May 2023, initially denying the allegations but later admitting to sexual activity with the victims during police interviews.
He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty at Preston Crown Court of four counts of sexual activity with a child.
On July 23, he was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison.
A victim described how the assault severely impacted her trust and mental health, revealing feelings of dirtiness and fear, alongside emotional trauma.
The police emphasized that Chapman groomed and manipulated the girls with the intent of engaging in sexual activity, and that his final act of control was forcing victims to re-live their ordeal by giving evidence.
The court's sentence aims to allow victims to begin healing from his systematic abuse.
