EXMOUTH MAN BENJAMIN SAWYER SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL ON SNAPCHAT

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Exmouth, Benjamin Sawyer, a 20-year-old resident of Moorfield Road, was brought before Exeter Crown Court to face charges related to his inappropriate and illegal online conduct involving a minor. The case emerged after a distressing discovery by the victim’s father, who uncovered a highly sexualized conversation between Sawyer and his 13-year-old daughter on social media platforms, leading to a police investigation.

It was revealed that Sawyer initially made contact with the girl through Facebook, a popular social networking site, before transitioning their communication to Snapchat. Snapchat, known for its temporary messages that disappear after ten seconds, became the platform where Sawyer engaged in grooming behavior. During their exchanges, Sawyer sent explicit images of himself to the girl and encouraged her to send similar photographs and videos in return. The young girl, seeking validation and feeling a sense of maturity, responded by sharing both still images and videos of herself.

The court heard that Sawyer lost contact with the girl for approximately six months. However, he reinitiated contact when she had turned 14, again requesting her to send more images via Snapchat. This pattern of inappropriate communication was detailed during the proceedings, highlighting Sawyer’s persistent attempts to engage the girl in sexualized exchanges.

Prosecutor Mr. Joss Ticehurst explained that the initial contact began on Facebook, with Sawyer claiming he believed the girl was older—around 14 or 15—despite her stating she was only 13. The conversation quickly turned sexual, with Sawyer requesting explicit images and videos from the girl, who responded by sending a few images and videos of herself. Although the contact temporarily ceased, it resumed in December, with Sawyer again pursuing sexual content from the girl. The exchanges included messages such as “you first,” indicating his continued predatory behavior.

The case came to light after the girl’s father accidentally saw the messages on his daughter’s phone and promptly alerted the police. Investigators uncovered the conversations, which included a message from Sawyer saying, “you first,” and other exchanges where he referred to her as “a little minx” when she was hesitant to continue communicating.

In court, Sawyer admitted to two charges of inciting a child to take part in pornography. The judge, Recorder Mr. Ignatius Hughes, sentenced him to a community order with 12 months of supervision, emphasizing the importance of addressing his behavior responsibly. Additionally, Sawyer was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years, a measure that requires him to regularly update authorities about his whereabouts and activities. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed, granting police the authority to monitor his internet usage to prevent further offenses.

During sentencing, Mr. Hughes remarked, “This behavior is something you need to deal with honestly and positively. I bear in mind your age and lack of previous convictions. These cases could have led to a custodial sentence, but the more sensible course and the better way of protecting the public is a community order with conditions and supervision.”

Defending solicitor Mr. Warren Robinson explained that Sawyer was only 18 when the misconduct began and attributed his actions to immaturity and a mistaken belief that the girl was older. He expressed remorse and stated that Sawyer now fully understands the gravity of his actions and is eager to cooperate with probation services to ensure such behavior does not recur. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.