MAN JAILED FOR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SCHOOLGIRL HE MET ON XBOX
David Wood, an Xbox user and groomer, has been sentenced to more than six years in prison after engaging in a sexual relationship with a teenage girl he met while playing Fortnite.At 37 years old, Wood admitted to having sexual contact with the girl, whom he met when she was 14 and with whom he had sex when she was 15.
Authorities revealed that the young girl’s mother unknowingly dropped her off at Wood’s residence on multiple occasions, believing she was visiting a boyfriend from her school year.
When the mother discovered the truth, Wood persisted in contacting the girl, sending messages instructing her not to cooperate with law enforcement authorities.
An investigation uncovered indecent images of the girl on his mobile phone, along with items such as a pregnancy testing kit and a lace bodysuit at his home.
Wood, from Washington, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual activity with a minor and possession of indecent images, leading to a sentence of six years and eight months.
Previously, in November, he received a 15-month sentence for attempting to obstruct justice by trying to interfere with the police investigation.
The court was told that the relationship was exposed after someone informed the girl’s mother.
Police found 572 images on Wood’s phone, including 12 explicit images of the girl in her underwear.
While on bail, Wood communicated with the girl through a letter sent via a third party, and she replied.
Her mother later found out that the two had been still exchanging messages on Facebook, where Wood had also sent a photo of himself with his torso exposed.
Wood, who resides on Dunstanburgh Close in Oxclose, Washington, was ordered to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence and will be under extended license for an additional three years.
