MAN ADMITS ASKING UNDERAGE GIRL FOR NAKED IMAGES
Benjamin Robert Heal, a 42-year-old man from Robin Way in Stalbridge, has admitted to asking an underage girl to send him naked images and has described sexual acts he wished to carry out.He appeared before Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on February 3, 2023.
Heal previously pleaded not guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and chose a summary trial, but four days before the trial was scheduled, he changed his plea to guilty.
The charge involves an offense between August 9 and August 17 in 2021 when Heal communicated with the online profile of a girl under 16, 'for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification,' without reasonably believing she was over 16.
Court documents reveal that Heal encouraged her to make a sexual communication by requesting naked images and describing sexual acts he wanted to perform.
Heal is scheduled to be sentenced on March 30, 2023, at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court, with the case adjourned for a pre-sentence report, which will explore all options, including custody.
