Peterborough man, 47, jailed for posing as 18-year-old to target teenage girl

PETERBOROUGH MAN, 47, JAILED FOR POSING AS 18-YEAR-OLD TO TARGET TEENAGE GIRL

A 47-year-old man from Peterborough has been jailed for one year and seven months after sending an explicit photo to a teenage girl he befriended online.

The abuse began in March 2024 when Mark Broom used false profile photos of social media models to communicate with the victim, who was 14 at the time and does not live in Cambridgeshire.

The girl’s father discovered the misuse when he noticed increased phone usage and checked her device, finding chats on TikTok and WhatsApp featuring the explicit photo.

Upon contacting the police, Broom was traced through his communications and was found to be posing as an 18-year-old man in the chats, which included inappropriate questions about the girl's underwear.

Following a no-comment interview, Broom admitted sending a photograph intended to cause alarm or distress on his trial's scheduled day at Huntingdon Law Courts in December.

He received sentencing at the same court on 6th February 2025 and is subject to a seven-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to monitor future behavior.

Detective Sergeant Mike Paget of the Online Child Abuse Safeguarding Team highlighted the severe impact of Broom’s actions.

The girl’s parents described their daughter as previously outgoing and positive, now withdrawn, anxious, and lacking drive.

Det Sgt Paget also emphasized the dangers of social media's exploitation of children's trust, offering guidance for keeping children safe online.