JAMES ROSS FROM LUPSET SENTENCED FOR SENDING 10,000 INDECENT MESSAGES TO TEENAGE GIRL IN LEEDS

In November 2013, a disturbing case emerged involving James Ross, a 64-year-old man from Lupset, who engaged in an alarming online relationship with a teenage girl. The incident came to light after the girl’s mother took action to investigate her daughter’s phone and laptop, leading to a shocking discovery of the extent of Ross’s inappropriate communication.

According to court proceedings, Ross had exchanged over 10,000 messages with the 15-year-old girl after they became friends on Facebook. The messages were characterized by their explicit and sexually charged content, with Ross encouraging the young girl to send him indecent photographs of herself. The court heard that Ross was fully aware of her age, and his Facebook profile featured a genuine picture of himself, which added a disturbing layer to the case.

The mother of the girl, upon discovering naked images of her daughter that had been sent to a contact named “Jimmy,” immediately contacted Ross. She warned him to stay away from her daughter, but Ross responded dismissively, simply hanging up the phone after saying “hello.” This prompted her to call the police, who launched an investigation into the matter.

During the police inquiry, authorities uncovered the full scope of Ross’s interactions with the girl. Prosecutor Olivia Checa-Dover revealed that the number of messages exchanged exceeded 10,000, highlighting the extent of the communication. The messages contained numerous sexually explicit exchanges, with Ross actively inviting or inciting the girl to engage in sexual acts. On one occasion, the girl told him to stop because she was at school, indicating her discomfort and the inappropriate nature of their contact.

Further evidence revealed that the girl had sent Ross two naked photographs of herself. Despite her pleas for him to delete the images, Ross admitted he intended to keep them, which constituted a serious criminal offense. Ross faced multiple charges, including possession of indecent photographs, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and inciting child pornography.

During the court hearing, James Littlehales, representing Ross, argued that although the messages were sexually explicit, the interaction was somewhat mutual. The girl herself told police that she did not feel manipulated into sending her images and did not see herself as a victim, suggesting a complex dynamic in the case.

Judge Shaun Spencer QC, presiding over the case, acknowledged the disturbing nature of the messages, describing them as “of the most filthy character.” He emphasized that the fact the girl was a minor made Ross’s conduct criminal, regardless of her apparent consent or understanding. The judge sentenced Ross to nine months in prison, ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years, and imposed a sexual offences prevention order to restrict his future conduct.

This case underscores the serious legal consequences of online sexual misconduct, especially involving minors, and highlights the importance of vigilance by parents and authorities in protecting vulnerable young people from exploitation.