TOMAS ODY OF BURY ST EDMUNDS ESCAPES JAIL AFTER ONLINE SEXUAL CHAT WITH 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In November 2014, a man from Cowlinge, Tomas Oddy, who resides on Bradley Road in Cowlinge, narrowly avoided immediate imprisonment after engaging in inappropriate online conversations with a teenage girl. The incident, which took place during the summer of that year, involved Oddy, aged 43, who admitted to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a minor, a serious criminal offense.

According to court proceedings, Oddy met the girl, who used the alias Millie, in a chat room. Despite discovering that she was only 15 years old, he continued to communicate with her, demonstrating a disturbing disregard for her age and vulnerability. He obtained her mobile phone number and proceeded to send her a series of explicit messages, which included sexually suggestive content. The prosecutor, Michael Crimp, detailed that Oddy watched as the girl removed her top and displayed her breasts during an online session. Furthermore, during another chat, Millie believed that Oddy was performing a sexual act on himself, which prompted her to contact the police.

It was revealed that Oddy had no prior criminal convictions and cooperated fully with law enforcement authorities. He admitted to his actions, acknowledging the misconduct. During the court hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on November 27, the defense, represented by Edward Renvoize, argued that Oddy initially believed the girl was older and had continued the communication despite discovering her true age. Renvoize described the incident as a significant lapse in judgment, emphasizing that there was no indication of any particular interest in young girls beyond this incident.

Judge David Goodin sentenced Oddy to 12 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for 18 months, meaning he would not serve time immediately but would be under supervision if he reoffended. Additionally, the judge ordered that Oddy be placed under the supervision of the probation service for 18 months, pay costs amounting to £250, and register as a sex offender for the next ten years. The judge expressed some understanding, stating, “I am satisfied that you meant her no ill and if you had been aware of the damage being caused by it then you wouldn’t have engaged in the activity,” highlighting the seriousness of the offense and the importance of accountability.