NIALL GRIFFITHS FROM LONGTON SENTENCED FOR GROOMING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN SHOCKING FACEBOOK CASE

In September 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Niall Griffiths, a 22-year-old resident of Longton, who engaged in a sinister attempt to manipulate and exploit a 14-year-old girl. The incident came to light after Griffiths initiated contact with the teenager via Facebook, where he pursued a relationship with her despite being fully aware of her age.

Griffiths's actions were characterized by a blatant disregard for the girl’s age and vulnerability. He expressed his affection for her, claiming he loved her and wishing to have a sexual relationship. His messages included explicit language and invitations to engage in sexual role play, which he encouraged her to participate in. Throughout their online exchanges, Griffiths called her affectionate names such as 'babe' and expressed his desire to make her pregnant, revealing a disturbing intent to exploit her sexually.

The situation escalated when the girl’s phone was confiscated during an investigation. Authorities discovered that she had been engaging in sexual conversations with Griffiths, who had initiated and maintained the contact. The messages confirmed that Griffiths was aware of her age, as she explicitly told him she was only 14, yet he continued to pursue her. The chat logs also revealed that he exchanged sexually explicit images with her and called her derogatory names such as 'slapper,' 'slut,' and 'prostitute.' He further accused her of sleeping with other men within the context of their role play.

Prosecutor Richard Orme detailed the case, stating that Griffiths was arrested after the phone was examined. The evidence clearly showed his predatory behavior and intent to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity. Griffiths, who was living on Anchor Road in Longton at the time, admitted to two offences related to his conduct.

During the court proceedings at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Kevin Mortlock, representing Griffiths, acknowledged that the defendant, now aged 24, had a history of using social media extensively. He emphasized that Griffiths did not specifically target a vulnerable individual but admitted that he should have recognized the danger once the girl disclosed her age.

Recorder Andrew Easteal delivered a stern sentence, imposing a three-year community order that includes a program aimed at addressing his sexual offending. Griffiths was also placed on the sex offenders’ register until further notice and was subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

In his remarks, Recorder Easteal highlighted the vulnerability of the young girl involved, emphasizing that the law is designed to protect individuals like her from predators. He condemned Griffiths’s conduct as deplorable and underscored that his ultimate goal appeared to be engaging in sexual activity with the girl, which he described as a reprehensible breach of trust and morality.