STEPHEN ANDERSON GROOMED 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN NETHERTON AND SENT EXPLICIT MESSAGES ON SKYPE

In April 2014, a disturbing case emerged involving a man from Merseyside who was convicted of grooming a young girl for sexual purposes through online communication. The individual, identified as Stephen Anderson, a 38-year-old steelworker, was sentenced to prison after it was revealed that he had engaged in a series of inappropriate and illegal activities targeting a minor.

Anderson first met the girl when she was only eight years old. Over the years, he gradually built a relationship with her, and by the time she reached the age of 13, he began to groom her more aggressively. The grooming process involved sending her explicit messages via Skype, a popular video calling and messaging platform. The situation escalated further when Anderson started to touch her sexually and even sent her an explicit photograph, which constituted serious criminal behavior.

During the court proceedings, Robert Jones, the prosecutor, detailed that Anderson was residing in Netherton at the time of the grooming. The court heard that Anderson had made the young girl perform sexual acts, which she later described to police as confusing and frightening. She recounted an incident where she attempted to leave, but Anderson blocked her way and insisted she sit down. He then apologized and told her he loved her, further manipulating her emotionally.

Anderson’s inappropriate conduct extended to sending lewd text messages. When the girl questioned him about the messages, he claimed they were sent by mistake. However, he then proceeded to send her an explicit image, deepening the criminal nature of his actions. He also persuaded her to create a Skype account, which he used to continue sending her sexually explicit messages and to perform sexual acts during their chats.

The case took a turn when Anderson’s partner discovered the messages on his mobile phone. She shared this information with a friend, who then contacted the police authorities. This led to Anderson’s arrest and subsequent investigation. Despite initially denying the allegations, Anderson later admitted to multiple charges, including three counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and one charge of exposure.

During the court hearing, Anderson’s defense lawyer, Julian Linskill, stated that Anderson had been employed at the same steelworking firm for 15 years. However, he was forced to leave his job after colleagues discovered his criminal conduct. Linskill described the relationship as initially “almost innocent,” but acknowledged that it escalated to include explicit sexual content, emphasizing that there was a significant element of grooming involved.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, delivered a stern judgment, condemning Anderson’s actions. He stated, “You befriended her. You developed an inappropriate relationship with her. You developed an unhealthy interest in her. In truth, in this court’s judgment, you were grooming her. You were manipulating her and brainwashing her. You knew you were crossing the line. You must now take the consequences.”

As a result, Anderson was sentenced to 45 months in prison, reflecting the severity of his misconduct and the harm caused to the young girl in Netherton.