MAN TOLD GIRL TO CLIMB SCHOOL FENCE BEFORE HAVING SEX WITH HER
Ben Machin, aged 21 at the time, engaged in sexual acts with a girl three times and used threats to silence her.A man convicted of sexual offences has been sentenced after grooming a teenage girl via social media and convincing her to skip school before having sex with her in his car.
Ben Machin, 22, contacted the girl on Facebook, leading to three encounters where sexual activities took place.
From Liskeard’s Church Street, Machin appeared at Truro Crown Court to be sentenced upon admitting three charges of sexual activity with a child.
At the time, he was 21 and had lied to the victim, who was only 14, claiming he was 16.
All incidents occurred from January through September this year.
The court heard that the girl went missing in January and later told police she had sex with a male but did not specify who.
Police matched DNA evidence to Machin, who was the person she contacted online.
She informed authorities that he told her he was 16 and asked her to jump over her school’s fence to meet him in Bodmin.
Once in his car, Machin disclosed his actual age of 21 and asked her to have sex, which she hesitated but eventually agreed to.
The girl said there was no indication of this intent in their messages, and she would not have met him if they had discussed sex beforehand.
The girl met Machin two more times, including once at the Camel Trail, where they had sex again and vaped together.
During this meeting, she revealed police swabs to Machin, who instructed her to delete the messages, which she did.
Machin was detained on April 18, subsequently released on police bail with instructions not to contact the girl.
Nonetheless, they met again in September while she was 15, with Machin demanding sex in exchange for a vape.
They had sex during this encounter, at a time when Machin was under investigation.
He continued threatening her, stating he would locate her younger sister and have sex with her if she refused his demands.
He also threatened to stab and kill her if she disclosed his relationship with her.
Machin offered her money to stay silent and claimed he would pay someone to attack her if he was imprisoned.
A statement from the victim expressed her fears about Machin’s threats.
During mitigation, Machin’s representative noted he had limited past convictions and planned to start anew elsewhere.
It was also mentioned that Machin had a young daughter, that he had been improving himself while in prison, and that he admitted all charges early, showing genuine remorse.
Judge Robert Linford sentenced Machin to 32 months in custody, ordered him to register as a sex offender for life, and imposed a ten-year sexual harm prevention order, highlighting the severity of his conduct.
