MAN CONVICTED OF SERIOUS CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES AFTER DIGITAL INVESTIGATION
A man has been convicted of a catalogue of serious child sexual offences after investigators uncovered child abuse material across multiple electronic devices and proved he had attempted to communicate sexually with children online.Benjamin Groom was convicted of multiple offences, including making and possessing indecent images of children, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child under 13 to watch a sexual act, and attempting to incite a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.
The offences, committed between 2016 and 2023, came to light following a police investigation in which digital forensic specialists examined several electronic devices seized from Groom.
According to court documents, a forensic examination of an iPhone 14, iPad and iPhone 7 found 31 Category A, B and C indecent images of children.
Category A material represents the most serious level of child sexual abuse imagery.
Groom was convicted of: Three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children.
One count of possessing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child.
One count of possessing extreme pornographic images involving sexual activity with a dead or live animal.
One count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
One count of attempting to cause a child under the age of 13 to watch a sexual act.
Two counts of attempting to cause or incite a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity without penetration.
The prosecution case included forensic evidence recovered from Groom's electronic devices, together with specialist reports documenting the indecent images and other digital evidence.
The convictions mark the conclusion of a lengthy investigation into Groom's offending, which spanned several years.
