WILLIAM WRIGHT AND CONNOR HAYES JAILLED FOR CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN BOURNEMOUTH
Two men involved in a disturbing case of child sexual exploitation and online abuse have been sentenced to prison following their crimes in Bournemouth.William Wright, aged 24, from Andover Green in Bovington, and Connor Hayes, aged 24, from Namu Road in Bournemouth, appeared before Bournemouth Crown Court to face justice for their illegal actions.
The court proceedings brought to light the cruel manipulation and exploitation carried out by the two individuals against a young girl.
Police and investigators utilized the sentencing as a platform to emphasize the importance of reporting Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) cases, encouraging victims and their families to come forward and seek help.
Detectives stated that both Hayes and Wright took advantage of the victim’s vulnerable state to coerce her into engaging in sexual acts.
Although key facts emerged indicating that the girl was over the age of consent, it was confirmed that she was under 18 at the time of these events.
This legal detail meant that possessing or creating indecent images of her was a criminal offense regardless of her being over the age of consent.
It was clarified that the criminality primarily centered around the creation, possession, and distribution of indecent images and videos involving the girl.
William Wright pleaded guilty to multiple serious charges, including taking an indecent moving image of a child, intentionally seeking sexual services from a person under 18, distributing an indecent video of a child, and producing indecent images of a minor.
Connor Hayes also admitted guilt by pleading guilty to taking an indecent moving image of a child, possessing indecent images, and paying for sexual services involving a child.
The court heard that Hayes first befriended the victim in 2014.
While the girl was above the age of consent during their interactions, she was still under 18, which is a critical distinction in terms of the legality of their actions, specifically regarding indecent images.
In November 2014, Hayes persuaded the girl to participate in a sexual video with Wright.
He assured her that the recording was meant solely for their private use and would not be shared publicly.
Hayes warned her that if the video ever surfaced online, he would get into trouble because of her age.
Despite her concerns, the video was recorded, and afterward, she asked Hayes and Wright to delete it.
However, the video was later discovered to have been uploaded to the internet around November 2015.
The police acted swiftly once they identified the illicit content online.
On December 15, 2015, both Hayes and Wright were arrested at their respective addresses.
Authorities seized multiple electronic devices, including several computers and phones, to investigate further.
Examination of the devices revealed disturbing evidence.
Wright’s iPhone contained ten video clips and 27 still images of the victim engaged in sexual acts.
Similarly, Hayes’s laptop held 18 indecent images of the girl.
These evidences demonstrated the extent of their misconduct and deliberate exploitation of the young girl.
The legal proceedings culminated with charges brought against both men on May 3, 2016.
Their sentencing was part of a wider effort by law enforcement to combat online child abuse and exploitation.
Detective Constable Mandy Brimicombe, representing the Integrated Missing Persons & Child Sexual Exploitation Team (IMPACT), emphasized the gravity of the case.
She remarked, “Hayes and Wright exploited their victim’s vulnerability to engage in sexual acts with her.
They knew full well that she was under the age of 18 when they published videos of her on the internet.
This is a serious criminal offence.” Both men received a sentence of two years in prison, reflecting the court’s recognition of the severity of their actions.
Additionally, they were each subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that will last for five years, restricting their activities and aiming to prevent further abuse.
