SHIPLEY MAN CHRISTIAN ABERNETHY SENTENCED AFTER WEB CAM SEX OFFENSES IN BRADFORD

In July 2010, Christian Abernethy, a 20-year-old man from Shipley, was brought before Bradford Crown Court to face serious allegations related to online sexual misconduct involving minors. The court heard that Abernethy, who had previously resided in Windhill, had engaged in inappropriate and illegal activities during webcam chats with two young girls, both claiming to be 14 years old. However, the identities and exact ages of these girls could not be definitively confirmed, as they were only identified through the content of the recovered web conversations.

According to the prosecution, the offending actions took place over a span of just a few days in July 2008. The first incident involved a lengthy online chat with a girl, during which Abernethy encouraged her to perform a sexual act. The conversation escalated to the point where he suggested she carry out the act, demonstrating a clear attempt to incite illegal activity.

The second girl, whose identity remains unverified, sent Abernethy a photograph of herself and engaged in discussions about boyfriends and sexual experiences. During their online interaction, they connected via webcam, and Abernethy proceeded to perform a sexual act on camera. In a separate chat session, he also offered to help her lose her virginity, further highlighting the predatory nature of his conduct.

The criminal activities came to light when a relative of Abernethy borrowed his computer and discovered the incriminating webcam chats. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the relative promptly alerted the police, leading to Abernethy's arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

At the time of the offenses, Abernethy was living on Prospect Close in Windhill, Shipley. He later moved to Glasgow. He pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, as well as one charge of attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

During the hearing, his barrister, Jeremy Lindsay, emphasized Abernethy’s lack of maturity, describing him as a young man who was socially isolated, emotionally neglected, and bullied during his school years. Lindsay argued that Abernethy lacked the understanding of the gravity of his actions and that he required support and supervision to address his behavioral issues.

Judge Recorder Graham Hyland QC acknowledged Abernethy’s need for help, stating, “You are a young man who needs help, which you haven’t been given in the past.”

As a result, Abernethy was sentenced to a community order with three years of supervision. He was also ordered to attend a sex offenders treatment program and to sign the sex offenders register for the same period. Additionally, the court issued a sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16, aiming to prevent further harm and protect potential victims.