1 week Ago By [email protected] (Peter Craig)
A man branded "a danger to girls" has been jailed after admitting sexual activity with a girl in Weelsby Woods when she was just 12 years old. Bradley Lamond, 24, of Grimsby admitted six offences. Prosecuting at Grimsby Crown Court, David Godfrey said it was concern from a relative of the girl who spoke to a youth worker, that led to an investigation by Humberside Police.
When interviewed, Lamond said a friend had told him that the girl was 16 years old, when in fact she was just 12. After the hearing, police said he had 'groomed and love bombed her'. When they first met they exchanged social media contacts and phone numbers and then went to Weelsby Woods.
Mr Godfrey said the victim had met Lamond after school while she was still in her school uniform. The first of the three offences admitted by Lamond involved two incidents in the woods, involving his encouragement to her to engage in sexual activity. Mr Godfrey said the defendant was 18 years old at the time.
They met at Weelsby Woods on a number of occasions when sexual activity took place, said the prosecutor. He read the victim impact statement of the girl, who is now 18 years old. She said: "He stole my innocence.
I was vulnerable and he took advantage of me. I feel I can no longer trust anyone. He has made me lose myself.
" She described the toll the offending has had on her mental health and she added: "He has robbed me of my childhood." Mr Godfrey said Lamond had admitted the first three offences on a basis that he had been told she was 16 years old at the time. He admitted the three other offences were committed when he knew she had just turned 13 years old.
The prosecutor said it was an aggravating feature that the offences were carried out in seclusion in Weelsby Woods. For Lamond, Craig Lowe said two of the first three offences had taken place at the same time. Then he was 18 years old.
The three later offences happened when he was 19 years old. The defence barrister said his client had not offended since the incidents, which happened more than five years ago. He said he hopes to work as a mechanic on his release from prison.
Judge Gurdial Singh said the age difference between the offender and his victim represented half her life, when she was 12 years old. "You closed your eyes and took advantage of her naivety and youth," he said. The judge said the disparity in the ages between the defendant and his victim and the severe psychological harm that had been caused to the victim were aggravating features.
He sentenced Lamond to a total of eight years in prison. Judge Singh said: "You are someone who is a danger." He said he will serve two-thirds of the sentence before being considered for parole.
He said there will be a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life to avoid him coming into contact with girls under 16 years and he will be on the Sex Offender Register for life. The judge thanked the victim, who was in court for the sentencing hearing. He praised her courage and said he was grateful for the statement she wrote to the court.
Leading the investigation was Protecting Vulnerable People Officer Paul Wells who said after the hearing: “Lamond was 18-years-old when he first met the child and took advantage of them even after he found out they were only 12-years-old. “He manipulated the child into providing their social media details so he could contact them, take advantage, love bomb and groom them, eventually gaining their trust and coaxing them into sending explicit photos to each other to satiate his sexual deviancy. “I cannot commend the victim enough for taking that step and coming forward to report Lamond.
It is never easy, and the judicial process can be long and complex. Their bravery cannot be underestimated. “It is never the victim’s fault, and I would strongly appeal for any child who is being manipulated into doing something they don’t want to do, or anyone who suspects crimes of this nature are taking place, to please speak to a trusted adult or friend and report it to us, when you are ready.
“It doesn’t matter if the offences happened five hours or 50 years ago, we take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and will do everything we can to bring predatory offenders like Lamond to justice.” If you have been a victim of sexual offences, or know someone who has, contact the non-emergency number 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.
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