HAYDEN PRIOR FROM VERWOOD JAILED FOR GROOMING GIRLS ON FACEBOOK IN DEVASTATING CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Verwood, Hayden Prior has been sentenced to prison for his heinous online grooming activities involving underage girls. The 20-year-old offender, who resides on Lake Road in Verwood, used fake Facebook profiles and false identities to manipulate and exploit vulnerable young females.

Prior’s criminal conduct began when he created a false persona, initially posing as a 19-year-old girl. His first victim was a teenage girl who was particularly vulnerable, having recently lost her father. During their online exchanges, Prior built a deceptive relationship, eventually persuading her to perform a sexual act on video. He then coerced her into sending explicit images, including topless and waist-down photographs. The predator further escalated his abuse by sending her graphic images, one of which involved extreme pornography featuring an animal. He also requested footage of her engaging in sexual activities with friends, exploiting her trust and emotional state.

When the girl hesitated or failed to respond immediately, Prior, still pretending to be a young woman, threatened to harm himself if she did not comply with his demands. This manipulation led her to believe he had carried out his threat, causing further distress. The victim, who confided in police about her father’s recent death and her history of being bullied, explained that she initially felt drawn to Prior because she believed he was an older girl who cared about her. She expressed that her feelings of loneliness and a desire for affection made her vulnerable to his manipulations, stating, “I felt like I needed to be loved.”

Following this, Prior adopted a different identity, using a photograph he found online to pose as a young man named James. Under this alias, he sent a friend request to a 12-year-old girl and began messaging her. He persuaded her to record videos of herself undressing in a manner resembling a striptease, then asked her to produce a second similar video. Fortunately, the girl confided in her father, leading to police intervention and the arrest of Prior.

Another victim, a 14-year-old girl, was identified after her teachers at school learned she was infatuated with an older boy named James. It was discovered that Prior, again using a false Facebook profile, had been messaging her for approximately two months. In December of the previous year, he asked her to remove her jeans and bra. When she expressed that she was not ready, Prior pressured her with comments like, “Don’t take long, I can’t wait,” and “If you love me, you’ll show me.” He further implied that their relationship could end if she did not comply, saying, “We can just stop seeing each other.”

Prior faced multiple charges in connection with his actions, including seven counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and three counts of causing a child to watch sexual activity. He appeared before Bournemouth Crown Court on October 7 for sentencing. During the hearing, his defense attorney, Brian Sharman, described Prior as an “inadequate young man” struggling with social connections and urges typical of his age, who had fallen into the trap of online fantasy. Sharman emphasized that the online world creates an unreal environment where young girls form attachments to individuals they have never met physically.

Judge Brian Forster sentenced Prior to 16 months in a young offender institution. In his remarks, the judge condemned Prior’s conduct as “bullying” and “deceitful,” stressing that his actions caused real harm to real victims. “There are young people behind these online identities who have suffered as a result of your offending,” he stated. As part of his sentence, Prior will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely and is required to report as a sex offender for the next ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.