SCOTT SWEATMAN GROOMED TEENAGE BOY IN BURY AND SENT INDECENT PICTURES

In March 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving Scott Sweatman, a 27-year-old former soldier, who engaged in a prolonged pattern of grooming a teenage boy over several years in Bury. The court heard that Sweatman repeatedly sent explicit images of himself to the victim and solicited similar images in return, exploiting the boy’s vulnerability during his formative years.

The initial encounter between Sweatman and the young boy occurred in 2011, when the victim was just 11 years old. According to court proceedings, Sweatman first approached the boy near a shop close to his residence in Bury. He then offered the boy a lift, which the boy accepted. The journey lasted approximately 15 minutes, during which Sweatman parked the vehicle and, in a disturbing act, performed a sexual act on himself in front of the boy. He then asked the boy to join him in this act, marking the beginning of a series of inappropriate and illegal interactions.

The grooming continued over the years, with the next significant incident taking place in November 2013. During this period, Sweatman initiated contact with the victim via Snapchat, a social media platform. He sent the boy naked pictures of himself and requested the same from him, further crossing boundaries and escalating the abuse. The following summer, Sweatman reached out again through Instagram, sending more explicit images and expressing a desire to touch the boy sexually. These messages revealed a persistent pattern of manipulation and exploitation.

The victim’s family eventually discovered the messages, which confirmed the ongoing abuse. In September 2018, Sweatman was arrested at his home on Ribble Drive, Bury, following the investigation. The victim later provided a personal statement to the court, describing the emotional toll of the abuse. He revealed that he had suffered from anxiety but expressed relief that Sweatman had admitted to his actions and that he was believed.

During the hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Tina Landale sentenced Sweatman to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. The judge emphasized the gravity of Sweatman’s actions, stating, “When this boy was just 11, you put him in a situation where you took advantage of his vulnerability. Sexual offences took place on three separate occasions, and you already knew he wasn’t going to tell. There is a strong element of persistence in what you did.”

In addition to the suspended sentence, Sweatman is required to attend a sex offender treatment programme, undergo nine months of alcohol treatment, and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the next ten years, aimed at protecting others from similar abuse.