JOHN COLLINS FROM ASHFORD SENTENCED FOR EIGHT SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING TEEN VICTIMS

In April 2018, a disturbing case unfolded involving John Collins, a 33-year-old man from North London, who was convicted of committing eight serious sexual offences against minors in the Kent area, specifically involving victims aged between 14 and 15 years old. The case drew significant attention due to the manipulative tactics Collins employed and the subsequent efforts by law enforcement to bring him to justice.

Collins, who had previously used the alias "Jonny Anaconda," was known to have groomed a young girl attending school in Ashford. His grooming process was described as smooth-talking and calculated, aimed at luring the girl into a false sense of trust. Once he had established this trust, he attempted to extend his manipulative efforts to her mother, seeking to use his charm to avoid legal repercussions. However, his plan failed, and police investigations soon uncovered a broader pattern of predatory behavior.

Further inquiries revealed that Collins had been actively using Snapchat, a popular social media platform, to contact and entice four other children into engaging in online sexual activities. These communications involved requests for explicit photographs and videos, with Collins sometimes sending explicit images of himself performing sexual acts. The police investigation uncovered a disturbing pattern of behavior, with Collins repeatedly targeting young girls and attempting to exploit them through digital means.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Collins had called himself "Jonny Anaconda" when communicating with one of his victims, a 14-year-old girl. This girl had initially told her parents she was out with friends in Thanet but later met Collins in London, where he had arranged to meet her at a hotel. She had also met him on several occasions in a car park in Ashford, where sexual acts took place. The case highlighted the extent of Collins' manipulative tactics and his willingness to travel to meet his victims.

Following the police intervention, Collins sent a distressing text message to the mother of one of his victims, claiming, "I really loved and respect her more than you could ever imagine. I know you don’t want to hear that but I wish that I was there to protect her through this sh*t. But what happened between (her and me) was completely mutual and we knew it was against the law so that’s why there’s nothing but lies." This message demonstrated his attempt to justify his actions and manipulate the perceptions of those involved.

It was also revealed that Collins had fled the country before he could be formally charged, but he was later arrested upon his return to the UK. The court heard that he had targeted multiple schoolgirls, sending them explicit photographs of his private parts on numerous occasions, sometimes up to 30 times. The emotional toll on his victims was evident, with one girl having attempted suicide due to the stress caused by the court case and the trauma inflicted by Collins.

Judge James O’Mahony sentenced Collins to seven years in prison, emphasizing the severity of his crimes. In his remarks, the judge condemned Collins for using his charm to manipulate the victims’ families, particularly targeting the mother of one victim to improve his own position. The judge stated, "You contacted the mother of one of your victims, using your undoubted charms to try to improve your position, in regard to what you had done to her daughter. But all you care about was you, number one... and your sexual gratification."

Judge O’Mahony also issued a stern warning, indicating that if Collins were to commit similar offences in the future, he could face a life sentence. The court’s decision underscored the seriousness of his actions and served as a reminder of the law’s stance against such predatory behavior, with the judge concluding, "If that’s not a deterrent then I don’t know what is."