SOCIAL WORKER HAS BEEN JAILED FOR SEXUALLY MESSAGING TWO YOUNG TEENAGERS ON SNAPCHAT
A social worker from West Sussex has been imprisoned after sending sexually explicit messages to two teenage individuals via Snapchat.Thomas Weller, aged 33 and residing in Faygate near Horsham, also accessed the records of another teenager with whom he had a prior relationship.
He received a sentence of 34 months in jail after admitting to sending highly inappropriate and explicit texts.
During sentencing, Judge Christine Laing KC noted, "You were working in children's services, you knew better than anybody else how vulnerable young children can be, and they were children." Weller plead guilty in July to two counts of sexual communication with a minor and misconduct in public office.
The court clarified that his actions regarding sexual communication did not relate to his professional role as a social worker in West Sussex.
In a case involving a 13-year-old girl, her mother reported nearly 300 messages exchanged with Weller, who impersonated a 20-year-old man.
The mother expressed concern that her daughter had been 'scarred for life' and lost faith in trust.
The court revealed the girl repeatedly mentioned her age to Weller; on one occasion, his response was “idc,” indicating indifference.
In a statement read aloud in court, the mother said, "She has lost trust in social services, she has lost trust in men, she seems angry when she talks to me.
“Her safe space is her bedroom and now he’s like a ghost who floats around in there.” Additionally, Weller engaged in over 200 Snapchat messages with a 15-year-old boy and even offered to invite him to his house, but the plan was halted due to the boy’s hesitation.
Weller also used a photo of a man he knew to create a fake profile on Snapchat, a fact that caused the man to feel shocked and ill when he discovered it.
He admitted to police that his actions might have been a ‘cry for help’.
The judge emphasized that such breaches cause harm beyond the immediate victims, eroding trust in services meant to protect vulnerable children.
A spokesperson from the NSPCC stated, “By sending sexual messages to young people online, Weller showed a blatant disregard for his knowledge and role as a social worker, which was to support the vulnerable.
“He would have been well aware of the devastating impact that sexual abuse can have on children." After sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Jon Gillings praised the victims and their families for their bravery, noting, “Thanks to the bravery and support of Weller’s victims and their families, we have been able to bring an extremely disturbing offender to justice.
“Weller held a position of trust, with a duty to protect vulnerable children.
His crimes are a betrayal of that responsibility." Defending Weller, Oliver Kirk said he suffered from mental disorders which related to his offending and that he was "full of remorse".
Weller will be on the sex offender's register for seven years.
