NEIL ELLIS SENTENCED IN HUNTINGDON FOR UNDERAGE SEXUAL COMMUNICATIONS

In May 2021, Neil Ellis, aged 56, was convicted following an undercover police operation that exposed his attempts to contact a 14-year-old boy for sexual purposes.

Ellis had used social media platform Grindr to send inappropriate messages and images to a schoolboy, referred to as ‘Jay,’ between November 28 and December 12, 2019. During their online exchanges, Ellis invited ‘Jay’ to his residence on West Street, Huntingdon, to engage in sexual activity. He also asked the boy to send photographs and provided a phone number for him to send indecent videos.

The boy, who was an undercover police officer, repeatedly reminded Ellis that he was only 14 years old. On December 17, 2019, Ellis arranged to meet the teenager in Huntingdon. When he was arrested at his home, authorities seized his phone, which contained the messages exchanged.

Ellis pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a boy under 16 following grooming attempts. In court at Peterborough Crown Court on Wednesday, May 5, he received a sentence of 22 months in prison, which was suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, and was issued a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Furthermore, Ellis must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and carry out a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement as part of his sentence.