NICHOLAS BULL: ORPINGTON AND ST MARY CRAY PAEDOPHILE TARGETS CHILDREN IN HORRIFIC ONLINE GROOMING SCHEME

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Orpington and St Mary Cray, Nicholas Bull, a 32-year-old man with a history of predatory behavior, has been found guilty of a series of heinous crimes involving the grooming and sexual exploitation of young girls. His criminal activities, which spanned over several years, came to light after a meticulous police investigation that uncovered a pattern of online abuse and physical assaults.

Initially, Bull was sentenced in May 2011 to nine-and-a-half years in prison for the assault and grooming of a 12-year-old girl from Hull. During that case, he was convicted of grooming her with gifts such as teddies, jewelry, and chocolates, and ultimately raping her. Bull had also deceived her parents by pretending to be a 13-year-old boy who had been injured while performing as Stitch in Disney On Ice, a ruse that allowed him to manipulate the young girl into trusting him.

At the time, detectives expressed suspicion that Bull’s criminal activities were far more extensive. They believed he had multiple victims, some as young as ten years old. This suspicion was confirmed after a detailed investigation that identified an additional thirteen victims, all aged between ten and fifteen. As a result, Bull’s sentence was extended by an additional five years, reflecting the severity and scope of his crimes.

The investigation revealed that Bull, who used various aliases and a fake profile picture depicting a teenage boy, targeted girls across the country through social media platforms such as Facebook and MSN Messenger. Posing as a young boy, he engaged in conversations that led to the girls sending him indecent images and speaking to him via webcam. One of the most disturbing aspects of his crimes was his meeting with a 14-year-old girl from Nottingham, whom he had groomed online for six months. Bull persuaded her to meet him at a hotel, where he filmed himself having sex with her. The footage was later recovered by police, and it was confirmed that he had also visited her at his home in Kent on two occasions.

Prosecutor Patrick Palmer detailed the case at Hull Crown Court, stating that Bull’s modus operandi was consistent across all his victims. He described how Bull used various online aliases, including Matthew Gordon, Matt Gordon, Matty Gordon, Matt Ball, and Nick Bull, to lure young girls into sexual exploitation. The court heard that he had pleaded guilty to an additional 23 counts of sexual abuse, including charges related to the Nottingham girl.

One particularly alarming case involved an 11-year-old girl from Hull. Bull convinced her he was a 16-year-old named Matt and asked for her address to send Christmas presents. He later asked to meet her, but never showed up. Instead, he sent her a text message asking for a nude photo, which she complied with. Police recovered 166 indecent images and videos from Bull’s devices, six of which were classified as Category A, the most serious level of child exploitation material.

Judge Tahir Khan QC addressed Bull directly, stating, “What the sentencing judge did not know in 2011 was that between January 2008 and December 2010 you had been systematically, persistently and ruthlessly pursuing girls aged from ten to 15 with a view to grooming them. You can properly be described as prolific. A number of girls succumbed to the pressure.”

Further details emerged about Bull’s activities in the communities of Orpington and St Mary Cray, where he was known to have lived and worked. His crimes, which involved both online grooming and physical sexual assault, have left a lasting impact on the victims and their families. The police investigation continues, as authorities believe there may be additional victims across the country, especially in the south of England where Bull resided.

Detective Constable Brian Christie of Humberside Police emphasized the ongoing nature of the inquiry, urging anyone who suspects their child may have been contacted by Bull to come forward. He clarified that Bull’s father was unaware of his son’s criminal activities and believed he was in a relationship with someone at least 16 years old. The police are committed to bringing all those responsible for enabling or covering up such crimes to justice.