August 2015 Yeovil children’s entertainer who groomed boy, 11, for sex spared jail ‘by the skin of his teeth’ A CHILDREN’S entertainer from Yeovil has been banned for life from working or associating with children after a court heard he groomed an 11-year-old boy for sex. Now 20-years-old, Liam Congdon, of Westfield Grove, was told he had escaped an immediate prison sentence “by the skin of his teeth” when he appeared in front of Judge David Ticehurst for sentencing at Taunton Crown Court this week. The court heard that Congdon was working as an entertainer at a holiday centre when he befriended the boy and his family and later corresponded with the boy through the internet. He pleaded guilty to inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. The mother of his child victim was too overcome to read her victim impact statement in court, in which she explained how offences had changed her son’s behaviour, causing him to become socially isolated and aggressive. Judge Ticehurst told the court the mum referred in particular to her son’s anger and aggression, which had come “from this incident. It always seems to be directed at me or his little brother”. Her statement continued: “Before this incident he was always such a gentle, calm and loving boy…He’s become reclusive and doesn’t mix socially and began to self-harm”. The judge said: “All of that is as a direct result of your attempt to groom him for your own sexual purposes. Indecent images of children were found on your laptop. No offences are charged in relation to that and I do not sentence you on that basis.What’s clear is that, having befriended this family, you indulged in grooming in trying to make contact with (the boy) for sexual purposes. You have heard the disastrous effect your actions have had upon him. I take into account that you were 18 at the time”. Referring to a pre-sentence report by a probation officer, the judge commented: “The next time, he may go further than he did now. Why does he want to be a children’s entertainer, other than to get close to children and abuse them? That’s the worry”. Congdon was told the starting point for sentencing after a trial was five years in prison with a sentencing range of three to eight years. Giving credit for his early plea reduced it to three years, of which he would serve half. The judge said he was persuaded that, with proper treatment, it may be possible “to nip this inappropriate behaviour in the bud”. He said it was not an easy decision and he had to balance the public interest in protecting young boys against the wider interest to stop potential offenders “such as you, behaving in this way again”. He sentenced Congdon to a three-year community order, subject to a Thames Valley sex offenders programme for three years, and warned he would go to prison for three years if he failed. He also made a sexual harm prevention order banning him for life from working with children under 16 or being in their company, except for his sister, and not to have any contact with his victim and family. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years and pay £500 compensation for emotional and psychological damage, which the judge said “will probably take many years to put right”.