ASHLEY ROGERS FROM BROCKWORTH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER FACEBOOK PREDATION INCIDENT IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

In October 2016, a disturbing case unfolded involving Ashley Rogers, a 30-year-old resident of Vicarage Court in Brockworth, who was involved in an alarming attempt to engage a minor in sexual activity through social media. Rogers, who has been described as having a 'very low IQ,' faced serious allegations after he used Facebook to contact a 15-year-old girl with the intent of initiating sexual encounters.

The incident came to light when Rogers, under the false alias 'Ben Jones,' sent a friend request to the young girl on Facebook. The girl, who believed she was connecting with a boy she had previously met a few years earlier, accepted the request, unwittingly opening the door to a series of inappropriate communications. As their online interaction progressed, the girl noticed that many of Rogers' other Facebook friends appeared to be young girls, many of whom were pictured wearing underwear, which raised her suspicions and discomfort.

According to prosecutor Janine Wood, Rogers began asking the girl personal questions and even suggested they meet in Cheltenham, a nearby town. He also requested her mobile number, which she provided. Subsequently, Rogers sent her a series of text messages detailing his inappropriate intentions, which she found utterly disgusting. These messages were exchanged on January 29 of the previous year. Mrs. Wood emphasized that the court had access to the actual texts, but chose not to repeat their content in open court, describing them as 'pretty gross.'

Concerned by her daughter's distress, the girl’s mother took her phone away and discovered that Rogers was attempting to contact her daughter again on January 30 and February 3. Despite Rogers' repeated efforts to communicate, the girl refused to encourage or engage with him, making excuses to avoid meeting him. The mother then reported the matter to the police, who launched an investigation that ultimately led to Rogers' arrest at his residence in Vicarage Court.

During the police search, authorities seized various items from Rogers' home, including his mobile phone and a packet of girls' underwear intended for children aged 13 or 14. The confiscated phone was identified as the device used to create the false Facebook account and to send the inappropriate messages. The investigation also revealed that Rogers had a prior conviction from when he was 26, related to a case where a missing girl was found in his company, resulting in a conditional discharge.

At the court hearing, Judge Jamie Tabor QC initially questioned whether pursuing charges against Rogers was truly in the public interest, given his IQ of only 69, which places him in the bottom two percent of the population. However, the Crown Prosecution Service reviewed the case thoroughly and decided to proceed with prosecution.

In sentencing, Judge Tabor acknowledged Rogers' awareness of the wrongfulness of his actions, noting that he had to pretend to be someone else online. The judge expressed some sympathy, suggesting that Rogers' loneliness might have contributed to his behavior, but emphasized that such conduct was unacceptable. Rogers was sentenced to three years of probation, which includes a 60-day activity program, a fine of £40, and an order to register as a sex offender. The judge also made it clear that Rogers should seek companionship in a more appropriate manner, ideally face-to-face with someone closer to his own age, rather than engaging in secretive and inappropriate online messaging with minors.