CHRISTOPHER HODDER FROM KIRKBY STEPHEN SENTENCED FOR ONLINE GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENCES IN CUMBRIA AND LONDON

In May 2017, Christopher Hodder, a resident of Kirkby Stephen, was at the center of a disturbing series of online sexual offences involving the grooming and exploitation of young boys through social media platforms, particularly Facebook. His criminal activities spanned several years and included the creation of multiple fake profiles designed to deceive and lure minors into sending explicit images and videos.

Hodder, 31 years old at the time, employed a manipulative tactic by pretending to be a young girl on Facebook, enticing boys to send indecent photographs or videos of themselves. His modus operandi involved sending his victims images of a girl to coax them into exposing themselves, often using threats and blackmail to maintain control over his victims. His predatory behavior was uncovered when police traced his computer IP address after he contacted a 15-year-old boy residing in a children’s home, revealing the extent of his online pursuits.

Initially, in January 2017, Hodder was sentenced to four years in prison, with an additional three-year extended license period, after pleading guilty to multiple charges at Carlisle Crown Court. These charges included five counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, eight counts of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, and two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order. However, this sentence was deemed insufficient by the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC, who referred the case for review by the Court of Appeal.

Following the appeal, Lord Justice Simon, sitting in London, concurred with the assessment that the original sentence was unduly lenient. As a result, Hodder’s custodial term was increased to five years and four months, with the three-year extended license period remaining in effect. The court’s judgment highlighted Hodder’s extensive use of fake Facebook profiles over approximately two years to obtain indecent images of children. The judge emphasized that Hodder spent several hours daily on Facebook searching for new victims, describing his behavior as compulsive and uncontrollable once he began.

Furthermore, the court noted that Hodder had a prior conviction for a similar offence involving a 14-year-old boy, indicating a pattern of predatory sexual conduct and online grooming. The judge pointed out that Hodder’s actions involved threats, blackmail, and deliberate targeting of vulnerable victims based on their age and circumstances. The court’s conclusion was clear: the original sentence was too lenient, and a longer custodial period was justified to reflect the severity of his crimes.

In a separate but related case from March 2017, Hodder was described as a “perverted monster” who targeted young boys on Facebook. During this hearing at Carlisle Crown Court, it was revealed that Hodder had previously been sentenced in 2013 for grooming offences. His earlier punishment included a court order prohibiting him from contacting children under 16 via the internet. Despite this, police uncovered a new catalogue of offences after discovering Hodder had continued to communicate with minors through social media, including a teenage boy and two brothers, totaling 13 victims.

Hodder later pleaded guilty to 19 charges, which encompassed causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to do so multiple times, breaching a court order from 2013, and possessing child pornography. During the sentencing, impact statements from victims’ relatives were read aloud in court, with one father stating, “Mine and my family’s life has been ruined. This perverted monster should never be allowed to walk the streets again.”

Judge Tony Lancaster sentenced Hodder to four years in prison, with an extended three-year license period. The judge described Hodder’s offending as mean, volatile, and predatory, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions and the need for a strong custodial response.

Earlier, in June 2013, Hodder, then 27 years old, had avoided prison after engaging in a sexual act on the internet in front of a 14-year-old boy. Hodder, who was involved with a circus at the time, had befriended the boy through his work at a circus school. He sent explicit text messages and a graphic photo, and the two engaged in online sexual sessions via Skype. The victim’s father discovered the messages on Facebook and contacted police, leading to Hodder’s arrest.

Hodder admitted to encouraging the boy to meet in person, although the meeting never occurred. He pleaded guilty to two charges of causing a child to watch a sexual act. The court, in mitigation, acknowledged Hodder’s remorse and his own history of childhood abuse, which he claimed contributed to his behavior. Judge Barbara Forrester sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and imposed a two-year supervision order, along with a requirement to register as a sex offender for ten years and a ban from working with children. The judge described the incident as “life-changing” for Hodder, recognizing the complexity of his case involving electronic contact and his position of trust.