THOMAS OLDMAN FROM SLAITHWAITE SENTENCED FOR ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CASE

In a disturbing case originating from Slaithwaite, a teenage boy named Thomas Oldham has been involved in a series of serious criminal activities related to the sexual exploitation of a young girl. The case came to light after Oldham, now 19 years old, engaged in a prolonged online relationship with an 11-year-old girl, during which he coerced her into sending explicit photographs of herself.

Oldham initially befriended the girl through an online chat service commonly used by Xbox gamers. Over the course of three years, he maintained contact with her, gradually escalating his demands for more explicit images. The girl, who was only 11 at the time, was manipulated into sending dozens of photographs, starting with images of her in a bra and eventually including pictures of her naked below the waist. Despite her fears, she continued to send images out of concern that her private information might be leaked.

The prosecution, led by Andy Wills, explained that Oldham knew the girl’s age and exploited her vulnerability. He used threats and coercion, especially after learning about her initial uncertainty regarding her sexual orientation. The girl had confided in Oldham that she liked a boy at school, but he used this information to manipulate her further. The relationship extended through various messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, where Oldham persistently requested more graphic images.

It was only when the girl attended a school assembly about online sexual exploitation that she realized she had been a victim. She subsequently reported the matter to her parents and authorities. The police acted swiftly, seizing Oldham’s phone and laptop, which contained all the images and evidence of his misconduct.

Oldham admitted to knowing the girl’s age and to requesting the explicit images. He also expressed a desire to meet her once she turned 16, which further underscored his predatory intentions. The court heard that he had committed multiple offenses, including two charges of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and 13 counts of possessing indecent photographs of a child. These offenses spanned from September 2010 to September of the previous year.

Initially sentenced to three years, Oldham’s term was later reduced to 12 months in custody. Following his release, he was ordered to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders’ register. The case was deemed too serious for magistrates to handle alone, and he was transferred to Leeds Crown Court for sentencing, scheduled for July 15. The court’s actions reflect the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing efforts to protect minors from online exploitation.