TELFORD MAN JASON MCKERNAN SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND ONLINE GROOMING
In February 2017, Jason McKernan, a 21-year-old from Telford, was sentenced to prison after being convicted of raping a teenage girl while he was on bail for attempting to groom other schoolgirls online.A judge at Shrewsbury Crown Court described McKernan as having 'preyed on very young girls.' The court heard that McKernan had forced a 16-year-old girl to have sex after carrying her up a staircase.
In the weeks prior to this incident, he had targeted two other girls, one aged 14 and the other 12, attempting to arrange meetings with them.
He also made direct contact with another girl at a bus stop near her school, telling her he 'loved' her and expressing a desire to kiss her.
McKernan, of Station Road, Donnington, was sentenced to a total of five years and three months in prison.
Judge Peter Barrie told him, 'You preyed on very young girls and engaged in discussions to induce them to meet you, making clear you had sexual intentions.' The judge highlighted that three of the offenses occurred while McKernan was on bail, including the rape, during which he used violence and threats.
Additionally, McKernan received a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and was ordered to be on the sex offenders' register for life.
He pleaded guilty to the charges, which included rape, two counts of attempting to meet a girl under 16 after grooming her, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, with offenses taking place across April and May of the previous year.
Prosecutor Miss Samantha Powis recounted that during their first meeting, McKernan told the 16-year-old girl he loved her.
When she saw him outside her home, he threatened her, warning that he would have his girlfriend kill her if she told anyone.
She explained that McKernan forced his way into her residence, lifted her around the waist, and took her upstairs.
Police, who were en route to arrest him, arrived as the distressed girl was shouting from a bedroom window.
Miss Powis added that McKernan had previously engaged in texting, phone calls, and Facebook contact with other girls, all of whom had since blocked him.
