MAN JAILED FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING SCHOOLGIRL
A man from Blackburn has been sentenced to 17 years in prison after grooming a schoolgirl on Snapchat, then drugging and sexually assaulting her.Gregg Riley, aged 44, took explicit photographs of his 15-year-old victim while she was partly unconscious at his residence in Blackburn.
He also sought out other girls from the same local high school by paying for their Snapchat Premium subscriptions, requesting naked photos, or discussing his sexual fantasies with them.
On July 5, 2024, authorities from Lancashire Police were informed by the school’s safeguarding lead about concerns over several students in years 8 and 10 who had contacted a man on Snapchat.
The girl was interviewed, revealing that Riley had picked her up, provided her with ketamine, and expressed strong romantic feelings toward her, saying, “I only want you.
I want you forever,” while kissing her.
While driving to Blackpool, Riley, aware that she was 15, told her they planned to move to Scotland to marry since she could legally marry at 16.
He later returned her to his Blackburn home.
Due to the effects of ketamine, she lost consciousness multiple times and had to be carried inside.
There, Riley engaged in sexual acts with her and took nude photographs without her awareness.
The girl eventually blocked Riley on Snapchat.
Further investigation revealed that Riley paid for another girl’s Snapchat Premium and engaged in sexually explicit conversations, commenting on her hair and school uniform.
He later requested a meeting, expressed desires for sex, and admitted to wanting to hurt her as part of a sexual fantasy, even discussing necrophilia and engaging in sexual activities while she was unconscious.
Riley also claimed to love the girl and transferred between £200 and £260 via PayPal.
The girl had sent him sexual images and a video of herself.
For his 15th birthday, Riley purchased Snapchat Premium for yet another girl and later claimed to have had a nightmare involving chains and whips about her.
After his arrest, authorities seized Riley’s phone, which contained 294 indecent images of children and four prohibited images.
These included photos of children Riley did not know, many apparently taken from social media, some altered with a nudify app to depict underage individuals in sexualised or nude contexts.
Previously based in Blackburn but now with no fixed address, Riley was charged with encouraging sexual activity involving a girl aged 13 to 15, creating indecent images of a child, and possessing prohibited images.
He admitted all charges during a court hearing at Preston Crown Court last year.
On Wednesday, the same court sentenced Riley to 17 years in prison, with an additional seven-year extended licence, after deeming him a dangerous offender.
He was also subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, ordered to be on the Sex Offenders Register for life, and given a lifetime restraining order to prevent contact with his victims.
Detective Sergeant Stu Peall stated, “Riley is a manipulative individual who sought to groom his victims for his own depraved interests.
He was fully aware of their ages and exploited their vulnerabilities.
