LUKE COLLIE FROM BOURNEMOUTH JAILED FOR GROOMING VICTIMS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

In May 2014, Luke Collie, a man from Bournemouth, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for grooming young victims via Facebook, Skype, and Xbox. Collie was found to have offered gifts to children in exchange for sexual acts and became abusive and threatening when his advances were refused.

The Bournemouth Crown Court heard that Dorset Police initiated an investigation through POLIT, the Police Online Investigation Team, after receiving alerts about Collie's activities. Officers have since issued a warning to parents to monitor their children's online behavior closely.

During sentencing, Judge Peter Johnson stated, "He believes Collie poses a significant risk of further sexual offending and causing harm to children." The judge also ordered that upon release, Collie will spend an additional eight years under a dangerous persons' license under the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Any breach of this license could result in him being returned to custody immediately.

Furthermore, Collie was issued a Sexual Offenders Prevention Order and is required to register as a sex offender for life.