MANCHESTER MAN GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR ONLINE CHILD GROOMING
Warren Millward, aged 35, engaged in a disturbing online grooming and sexual communication with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl.Over a span of two months, he exchanged hundreds of messages via Facebook and WhatsApp, referring to her as “Princess,” asking her to call him “Daddy,” and suggesting she could be his “naughty little daughter.” He further requested her to send voice notes during sexual acts, inquired about adding friends to the chat who he found ‘cute,’ and sent explicit images of himself, including a video of masturbation and pictures of children he claimed were ‘sexy.' Millward also asked if she had friends who could join their chat and sent images of internet children for sexual gratification.
He was arrested on November 9, 2022, after the group ‘Confronted and Caught’ reported him.
During court proceedings at Manchester Crown Court, he was described as having committed ‘grotesque’ acts, with the judge expressing disgust and stating that his actions endangered children.
Millward received a 22-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete the Horizon Programme, undertake 20 days of rehabilitation, and perform 250 hours of unpaid work.
Additionally, he is subject to a three-month electrically monitored curfew from 8 pm to 6 am.
The judge highlighted the unfortunate fact that the contact was with an adult decoy, but warned of the potential psychological damage had it been a real child.
Millward’s offending was partly attributed to ‘thrill-seeking’ following personal hardships such as a divorce, a miscarriage, and the loss of a friend.
His lawyer emphasized his remorse and the lessons learned from his imprisonment.
