TREVOR ELLIS PLEADS GUILTY IN PLYMOUTH TO ONLINE SEX OFFENCES AGAINST TEEN GIRLS
In June 2013, a disturbing case emerged from Plymouth involving Trevor Ellis, a 50-year-old man who engaged in predatory online behavior targeting young girls.The court heard that Ellis, residing on Notte Street in The Barbican area of Plymouth, deliberately posed as a teenage boy on social media platforms to establish contact with underage girls and make inappropriate and indecent suggestions.
According to court proceedings, Ellis’s actions involved messaging two 14-year-old girls, both of whom lived in the northern regions of England.
The court was informed that Ellis’s deception was particularly egregious given the significant age gap between him and his young victims.
The sentencing judge, Paul Darlow, described Ellis’s conduct as “repulsive,” emphasizing the moral and legal gravity of his actions.
One of the victims, a 14-year-old girl, recounted her distress to police after discovering that her Facebook friend was actually a man in his fifties.
She expressed feelings of disgust, fear, and discomfort upon realizing the true identity of her online contact.
She described feeling “weird” and “scared” when she learned that the person she had been communicating with was much older than she had believed.
The girl also revealed that she had stopped using Facebook altogether due to her fears and was experiencing difficulty sleeping, worried about unknown calls and messages she was receiving.
The court heard that Ellis’s online interactions included explicit and inappropriate questions.
He asked whether the girl had performed a sexual act for a fee of five pounds and inquired about her underwear.
Shockingly, Ellis also made a disturbing request to have sex with the girl’s mother, further highlighting the severity of his misconduct.
The second victim, also aged 14, accepted a friend request from Ellis out of habit.
The prosecution revealed that Ellis offered her money in exchange for sex and again asked her to describe her underwear.
Additionally, he inquired about the possibility of engaging in sexual activities with members of her family, demonstrating a pattern of predatory behavior.
During the hearing, Jo Martin, representing Ellis, emphasized that her client was of previously good character and that his offenses, committed over two and a half years prior, did not reflect his current state.
She argued that Ellis had no intention or means to travel to the girls’ locations, as he lacked the financial resources.
Martin also noted that Ellis had acknowledged the need for specialist treatment to address his behavior.
Judge Darlow addressed Ellis directly, condemning his actions as morally repugnant.
He pointed out that Ellis’s online messages would have been deeply disturbing to girls of that age and that, although there was no face-to-face contact, the nature of his online conduct was nonetheless serious.
As part of his sentence, Ellis was ordered to complete a three-year community order that includes participation in a sex offender treatment program.
He was also required to pay costs amounting to £300.
Furthermore, Ellis was issued a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which mandates that he make his internet activity available to police authorities by providing access to his online history on any device he uses, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his online behavior in the future.
