WAYNE HAYWARD OF RUGBY SENTENCED FOR PERSISTENT SEXUAL BLACKMAIL AND INDECENT IMAGES INVOLVING A TEENAGER

In April 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Wayne Hayward, a man from Rugby, who engaged in manipulative and predatory behavior targeting a young girl. Hayward, aged 43 and residing on Beckfoot Close in Rugby, orchestrated a series of malicious schemes to threaten and blackmail a schoolgirl over indecent photographs she had sent him.

Hayward’s tactics were calculated and menacing. He initially posed as a 16-year-old boy, establishing contact with the girl, who was only 15 at the time. Using a pre-paid mobile phone, he engaged her in conversations that gradually became more intimate. Over approximately two weeks, he requested and received around 22 images from her, all while manipulating the dialogue to appear as if he was a peer her age. During this period, he also sent her images he had downloaded of a boy aged between 13 and 16, further complicating the situation and adding to her distress.

Concerned about the nature of the messages and feeling guilty about the images she had already sent, the girl eventually blocked Hayward’s number. However, demonstrating a disturbing level of persistence, Hayward purchased another pre-pay phone and reinitiated contact. This time, he adopted the persona of ‘Nathaniel’s girlfriend,’ an angry figure who was upset about their communication. Under this false identity, he demanded more photographs from her, threatening to publish the images on Facebook if she did not comply.

Despite her efforts to escape the harassment, Hayward continued his relentless pursuit. He used a third phone, still pretending to be the girlfriend, and even created an email account in her name, instructing her to send more images. The girl, increasingly frightened by the threats and pressure, was told that if she did not respond within 20 minutes, her previous images would be posted publicly on social media. The threats and demands culminated in her finally revealing the ordeal to her father, who then contacted the police.

Following her disclosure, law enforcement authorities tracked down Hayward. He was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to multiple offenses, including inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and making indecent images. The court heard that Hayward, who also ran his own IT business, had bought a pre-pay mobile phone specifically to carry out these manipulative acts.

Prosecutor Lynette McClement detailed the case, emphasizing the manipulative nature of Hayward’s actions. She explained that in 2014, Hayward’s online interactions with the girl involved a calculated effort to gain her trust and then exploit her. His requests for images became increasingly intimate, and he used flattery to persuade her to send photographs. The girl’s concern grew, and she eventually blocked his number, but Hayward’s relentless pursuit persisted through multiple devices and false identities.

During the court proceedings, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano questioned why Hayward had not been charged with blackmail over the threats to publish images, noting that such demands with menaces were clearly evident. The Crown Prosecution Service indicated that there was insufficient evidence for a blackmail charge, but the judge remarked that the methods used by Hayward were a severely aggravating factor.

Hayward’s initial police interview was uninformative, but he later expressed shame for his actions. He claimed that although he sometimes became aroused, he did not have a sexual interest in girls under 16. His defense lawyer, Simon Hunka, described Hayward as a professional man whose life had been turned upside down by the case. He explained that Hayward had previously run a successful IT business, which he lost after his computers were seized, and that he had to sell his home and now lives with his mother.

Despite these mitigating factors, the court recognized the gravity of his offenses. Judge de Bertodano sentenced Hayward to six years and eight months in prison. She emphasized the severity of his actions, describing them as persistent cruelty and highlighting the lasting impact on the victim and her family. The judge condemned Hayward’s continued attempts to contact the girl after she blocked him, noting that his behavior was driven by a sexual motive he refused to acknowledge.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge de Bertodano made it clear that anyone who preys on children in such a menacing and persistent manner must face lengthy imprisonment. She underscored the importance of sending a strong message that such conduct is utterly unacceptable and will be met with severe punishment.