DUNCAN CAMPBELL SENTENCED IN HUNTINGDON FOR GROOMING TEENAGER IN SOMERSHAM

In July 2023, Duncan Campbell, a resident of Norwood Road in Somersham, Huntingdon, was sentenced to over five years in prison after being convicted of serious sexual offences involving a teenage girl. The case drew significant attention due to the calculated manner in which Campbell allegedly groomed the young victim, ultimately leading to his conviction and imprisonment.

Campbell first attracted police scrutiny in September 2020 when authorities received a report indicating that messages had been discovered on his mobile phone. The police responded swiftly, locating Campbell shortly after 3:30 am the following day. He was found in his vehicle, and officers promptly arrested him. During the arrest, they seized his phone and a computer from his residence, initiating a detailed investigation into his activities.

The teenage girl involved was interviewed by police, initially denying any inappropriate contact or activity. However, under further questioning, she admitted to sending Campbell a sexually explicit video of herself, along with a photograph. She also disclosed that she had engaged in sexual intercourse with Campbell in September 2019, revealing the depth of the grooming and exploitation.

During police interviews, Campbell claimed he believed the girl was over 16 years old and acknowledged exchanging sexually explicit messages with her. He denied having any sexual contact, asserting that the girl was lying and that he was abroad at the time of the alleged incident. Despite his denials, the evidence against him was substantial.

Subsequently, Campbell was served with a postal requisition outlining multiple charges, including engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15, engaging in sexual communication with a child, and inciting a girl of that age to engage in sexual acts. Additional charges included causing a girl aged 13-15 to view images of sexual activity, making two counts of indecent images of a child, and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a minor.

Campbell maintained his innocence throughout the legal process, denying all allegations. However, during his trial at Peterborough Crown Court in May, the jury unanimously found him guilty of all charges. The court subsequently sentenced him on July 14, imposing a total prison term of seven years. Furthermore, Campbell was subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), designed to monitor and prevent any potential future offending.

This case underscores the serious nature of grooming and sexual exploitation crimes, highlighting the importance of vigilant law enforcement and judicial systems in protecting vulnerable minors from predatory individuals like Duncan Campbell in the Somersham and Huntingdon areas.