OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR CHILD EXPLOITATION AND ONLINE GROOMING
A 13-year-old girl was "shaking" with fear after the "friend" she believed she was chatting with online turned out to be a 29-year-old man.Blake Potbury claimed the girl was lying to cover her own "inappropriate" behaviour, but a jury saw through him and he was found guilty of sending indecent messages to a minor.
Potbury, of Horace Black Gardens in Ellesmere Port, used his stepdaughter's phone to add the girl on Snapchat on October 16, 2023.
After revealing his true identity, he proceeded to ask her questions about her personal life and advised her not to tell anyone about their communication.
He then continued to message her, asking whether she had a boyfriend, what was the oldest boy she had done anything with, and what she had done.
The girl immediately reported the incident to her mother, who contacted the police.
Potbury, now 31, denied engaging in sexual communication with a child and claimed she was lying, but the court found him guilty at Liverpool Crown Court last month.
During sentencing, the judge stated, "You sent a Snapchat request to the girl from your stepdaughter's phone, knowing that she was only 13.
However she became concerned when she received the message, 'what if this wasn't the person you thought it was?' When she asked, you revealed your true identity accompanied by a photo of your face.
You then proceed to send her a series of messages, accompanied by Xs and kisses, in which you questioned her about whether she had a boyfriend, what was the oldest boy with whom she had done anything, and what she had done.
You also send several messages asking her to promise she would not tell anyone that you have connected or messaged her.
Despite your outrageous suggestion that you were only questioning her out of concern or that she had been posing inappropriate questions, the jury concluded your motive was your own sexual gratification.
But for the girl's decision to tell her mother, I have no doubt you would have continued to communicate with her.
She was shocked and shaking when she saw the messages, which she said made her feel confused, upset, and scared about your intentions towards her.
She describes feeling scared to leave her house.
She also describes a loss of confidence, withdrawing from her friends, and becoming self conscious.
He has a long criminal history including 12 previous offences such as unlawful wounding in 2023, a suspended sentence in January 2024, and a 52-week sentence in November 2024 for possession of a large machete knife.
The judge ordered a 12-month prison sentence and a sexual harm prevention order.
He is assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm, especially regarding his behaviour towards female children, and his ongoing drug use, notably cocaine, is a significant concern.
The court highlighted that he has the capacity to act violently around children and remains dangerous due to his substance abuse.
The court emphasized that he was on bail at the time he messaged the girl and that he had no evidence of wider interest in children on his phone.
