ROSS PATMAN FROM COALVILLE AND DERBY JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND ONLINE GROOMING

In December 2016, Ross Michael Patman, a man with connections to both Coalville and Derby, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of multiple serious sexual offenses involving minors. The case revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse and grooming, both in person and through online platforms.

Patman's criminal activities came to light after he was identified as having sexually abused two young boys and engaging in grooming behaviors with others via the internet. His initial contact with one of his victims occurred during an online gaming session, where he exploited the child's trust by providing gaming credits and cash, thereby establishing a manipulative relationship. This grooming process eventually led to the sexual abuse of the boy.

Further investigations uncovered that Patman had also built relationships with the families of other children, which facilitated his access to additional victims. His offending extended beyond online interactions, as police discovered during a raid on his residence. Authorities found a collection of indecent images and videos depicting him with boys aged between six and eight years old. These videos were recorded without the children's knowledge, highlighting the sinister nature of his abuse.

The police investigation revealed that Patman had shared these illicit images with another individual who was known to have a 'clear sexual interest in children,' as reported during the court proceedings at Leicester Crown Court. The evidence presented painted a picture of a man deeply involved in the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.

Patman, who was formerly residing in Coalville and more recently living at Mercia Court, Repton, Derby, pleaded guilty to a series of charges. These included two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a boy under the age of 16, committed between June and December 2011. He also admitted to two counts of sexually assaulting a boy under 13 and inciting that child to engage in sexual acts, which occurred between January and December 2015.

In addition, Patman confessed to causing or inciting several other children under 13 to participate in sexual activities over a period from January 22 to 28 of this year. His offenses also involved the distribution of child sexual abuse images, with evidence of four indecent images in the most severe category (Category A), along with 26 in Category B and 16 in Category C. He further admitted to accessing a total of 1,019 images and videos online, including 163 in Category A, 505 in Category B, and 351 in Category C.

The court also heard that Patman had caused or incited a 10-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity via the internet between October 3 and 10 of this year. As part of his sentencing, the judge ordered that Patman must register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.

Ultimately, Patman was sentenced to eight years in prison, with an additional six years on license following his release, ensuring he remains under supervision for a significant period after serving his custodial sentence.