TAWSON MAN DAVID CLARE SENTENCED IN TELFORD FOR ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL

TAWSON MAN DAVID CLARE SENTENCED IN TELFORD FOR ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In November 2016, a man from Telford, identified as 29-year-old David Clare, was implicated in online grooming and sexual enticement of a 15-year-old girl from Northamptonshire.

Clare had impersonated a teenage boy by creating a fake online persona on Kik, claiming to be 14-year-old David Clarke.

Through this false identity, he befriended the girl and sought to obtain explicit photographs.

The girl eventually confided in her teachers, expressing suspicion about Clare's true identity after he provided two different dates of birth.

At Telford Magistrates Court, Clare pleaded guilty to three charges of inciting a minor to engage in sexual activity during the period from August to December 2014.

The court was told that Clare, of Woodcroft in Woodside, Telford, had asked the girl if she wanted to have phone sex and requested intimate photos, engaging in such activities up to four times a week.

Prosecutor Mrs.

Abigail Hall stated, "The victim was aged 15 at the time of the offence.

The defendant was aged 27 at the time of the offences.

Police contacted the victim after she expressed concerns to her teachers about her online interactions.

She initially thought she was talking to a 14-year-old male called David Clarke.

The defendant had asked her to send intimate photographs and to engage in phone sex." Clare was arrested when police traced the mobile phone to him.

Authorities also revealed that Clare admitted to operating seven different fake Facebook accounts.

Additionally, concern was raised by the mother of another girl about Clare’s online conduct in August 2014.

Magistrates sentenced Clare to a 12-month community order with a 60-day rehabilitation requirement, fined him £100, and ordered him to pay costs of £185 and an £85 victim surcharge.