GEMMA WATTS SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON IN WINCHESTER FOR ONLINE GROOMING AND SEXUAL ABUSE

A woman who deceitfully posed as a male to groom and sexually abuse teenage girls across the country has been sentenced to eight years in prison. Gemma Watts, aged 21, engaged with four girls online through social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, beginning a process of grooming. The youngest victim was only 13 years old. Winchester Crown Court heard that Watts, who was 19 at the time, fabricated a male identity named 'Jake Waton.' She told one victim she was 17 and another she was 15, maintaining this disguise even during in-person meetings. To prevent her deception from unraveling, Watts even altered her appearance to look more like a boy. She resides on Pembroke Avenue in Enfield and pleaded guilty to seven sexual offences during an earlier hearing on 28 November 2019. The offences included assault by penetration, sexual assault, and meeting a child following sexual grooming, spanning four different victims.

Judge Susan Evans QC sentenced her on Friday, 10 January, to eight years in custody, also imposing a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. PC Nicola Benson from Hampshire Constabulary’s Missing and Exploited Team remarked, “The level of manipulation and deceit used by Watts to trap her victims was truly shocking. Children are especially vulnerable to online exploitation, and this case shows how easily contact with strangers can lead to in-person abuse. It’s astonishing the lengths Watts went to for her crimes. I am pleased she has received a custodial sentence, and I want to commend the bravery of the girls and their families for coming forward. They are not to blame, and I hope they can move on from this ordeal. I also thank officers from West Midlands Police, Devon & Cornwall Police, Surrey Police, and the Metropolitan Police for their assistance in this complex investigation.”

The court learned that one victim from Hampshire first encountered Watts via a YouTube comment, which led to contact on Snapchat. They met in November 2017, during which Watts even met the victim’s parents and stayed in their home, sleeping on their sofa. Prosecutor Barnaby Shaw stated that sexual assaults occurred at the victim’s house nightly, and the victim had challenged ‘Jake’ over his gender, which had been a recurring issue. Family members initially felt concerned about certain behaviors, but both the victim’s parents recognized Watts’s skill in manipulation and maintaining her false persona.

Further investigation by Hampshire Constabulary revealed that Watts’s true identity was uncovered after the victim’s doctor reported suspected sexual assault by a teenage boy. Police inquiries identified other victims from Surrey, Devon, and the West Midlands, all targeted online by ‘Jake,’ who then met them in person and sexually assaulted them. One girl expressed her shock and disgust upon realizing who Watts really was. Initially, Watts denied involvement when questioned but later claimed she did not understand her reasons for targeting girls, describing her actions as a ‘game.’

In November 2018, Metropolitan Police officers obtained an interim Sexual Risk Order from Stratford Magistrates’ Court to monitor Watts and prevent her from reoffending until charges were formally approved by the CPS in Hampshire. A final Sexual Risk Order was issued on 2 May 2019, with Watts charged on 12 September 2019. Detective Constable Phillipa Kenwright of the Metropolitan Police highlighted that Watts had specifically targeted young victims online, duping them into believing they were forming genuine relationships, which she then exploited for sexual acts. “Her arrest and subsequent imprisonment prevent further victimization and serve as reassurance that offenders will face justice,” she said. “I hope this case acts as a warning to others who seek to exploit children online.”

Following her sentencing, Hampshire Constabulary’s Education and Youth Engagement Coordinator, PC Maria Carrick, emphasized the online vulnerability of young people. She explained that adults sometimes pose as youths to groom or coerce children into sexual activities or meetings with harmful intent. “Prevention is critical, and we work closely with schools, parents, and community partners to educate about online risks,” Carrick stated, underscoring the importance of community awareness and protection.