DARREN HADMAN BUSTED IN BOURNE FOR REPEATED ONLINE GROOMING AND SEX OFFENSES

In a series of disturbing incidents that have shocked the community of Bourne, Darren Hadman, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses, has been caught once again engaging in illegal activities online. The latest case involves Hadman returning to the internet to groom young girls for sexual purposes, despite his previous convictions and ongoing registration as a sex offender.

In June 2018, Hadman appeared before the court to face charges related to his online conduct. He pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with what he believed to be underage girls. The court was informed that Hadman had contacted multiple online profiles, which he thought belonged to young girls aged 12 and 13. During these interactions, he sent sexually explicit messages and images, further demonstrating his intent to exploit minors.

It was later revealed that these profiles were not genuine children but were decoys operated by the paedophile hunting team known as ‘The Soloceptors’. These decoys had been set up to catch individuals like Hadman, and their evidence was handed over to the police, leading to his arrest. Following his guilty plea, Hadman was sentenced to two years in prison, and his status on the sex offenders register was extended, reflecting the seriousness of his repeated offenses.

Prior to this recent conviction, Hadman’s criminal history includes a notorious case from May 2015, when he was jailed for grooming a 14-year-old girl he met through an internet chat room. During that incident, the girl initially believed Hadman was a 16-year-old boy named Tom. Prosecutors revealed that Hadman, then in his 30s, maintained contact with her despite knowing her true age. The girl, who came from a sheltered background and was under her parents’ protective watch, was encouraged by Hadman to send explicit photographs of herself. The grooming escalated when they met in a car park in Sleaford in March 2013, where Hadman kissed and groped her.

The girl’s mother discovered the incriminating text messages on her daughter’s phone, prompting police intervention. Prosecutor Esther Harrison described the girl as vulnerable and naive, emphasizing her lack of experience with relationships. The evidence showed that Hadman had a sexual interest in young girls, which was substantiated by his possession of indecent images and his grooming behavior. The court heard that Hadman engaged in sexual activity with the girl during their meeting.

At Lincoln Crown Court, Hadman, of Wetherby Close, Bourne, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including meeting a child following grooming, sexual activity with a minor, inciting sexual activity, distributing indecent photographs, possessing 318 indecent images, and making five indecent images of a child. He was sentenced to a total of three years and three months in prison and was issued a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim for ten years.

During the sentencing, defense lawyer Michael Cranmer-Brown challenged the portrayal of the victim as a naive and innocent girl, suggesting that Hadman’s own personal difficulties, including relationship issues, played a role in his actions. However, Judge John Pini QC emphasized the vulnerability of the girl, describing her as young for her age and naïve, and underscored the importance of protecting children from predators like Hadman. The judge stated that Hadman, as an adult, should have exercised restraint and responsibility, but instead exploited her innocence for his own gratification.

Despite his previous convictions and ongoing registration as a sex offender, Hadman’s criminal activities persisted, leading to his re-arrest and conviction in 2018. His repeated offenses highlight the ongoing risks posed by individuals with a history of sexual misconduct, especially when they continue to seek out vulnerable minors online. The community of Bourne remains concerned about the safety of its children and the effectiveness of measures to prevent such predatory behavior from recurring.