DAVID FRANKLIN FROM FORDINGBRIDGE SENTENCED AFTER THREATENING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN SALISBURY

In June 2018, a disturbing case emerged involving a young girl from Salisbury who was targeted by a man using coercion and threats to obtain indecent images of her. The perpetrator, identified as David Franklin, aged 20 and residing in Fordingbridge, engaged in a series of malicious online interactions with the 14-year-old girl, whom he knew from the local area.

Franklin initially made contact with the girl through Facebook, establishing an online friendship that appeared innocent at first. However, the tone of their conversations quickly shifted to a more sinister and threatening nature. Prosecutor Rob Welling outlined that Franklin then continued his communication via WhatsApp, where he began to make increasingly uncomfortable and inappropriate requests. The situation escalated when Franklin issued threats against her family, specifically warning that he would harm her sister if she did not comply with his demands.

According to the court proceedings, Franklin pressured the girl to send a photograph of her breasts, implying that harm would come to her loved ones if she refused. The girl, feeling intimidated and scared, complied with this request. However, she refused a subsequent demand for a more explicit image of her genital area, which prompted her to alert a friend about the situation. The girl confided in her friend, leading to the police being informed about the threats and the indecent images.

Law enforcement officers responded swiftly after the girl disclosed the details to her friend. When police arrested Franklin, they seized his phone as evidence. However, Franklin was uncooperative during the investigation, refusing to grant access to his device, which has since complicated the ongoing investigation. Franklin later admitted to two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

At Swindon Crown Court, Judge Robert Pawson addressed Franklin’s actions, emphasizing the gravity of the offense. He stated, “What you did was very serious. You had committed two sexual offences where you caused a child who was only 14 years of age to perform a sexual act. That included taking a photograph of themselves. Even with the difficulties you have, Mr. Franklin, you should have known better.”

Despite the severity of the crimes, the judge opted for a community-based sentence rather than immediate imprisonment. Franklin was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes a three-month curfew and participation in rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender. The court acknowledged that Franklin has a number of issues and that there is potential for him to be rehabilitated within the community, which influenced the decision to impose a community order rather than a custodial sentence.