KIERAN PRICE FROM CALDICOT CAUGHT IN SEXUAL CYBERCRIME WITH YOUNG GIRL IN BOLTON

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online grooming and the exploitation of minors, Kieran Price, a 23-year-old man from Ash Grove, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, was found guilty of engaging in inappropriate and sexual communications with a young girl from Bolton. The incident took place over a span of seventeen days during August and September of 2018, revealing a calculated effort by Price to groom the victim through digital means.

According to court proceedings, Price, who was 21 at the time, initiated contact with the girl via Facebook messages. Over the course of nearly two and a half weeks, he sent her a continuous stream of messages that were explicitly sexual in nature, as confirmed by the prosecution barrister David Temkin during the hearing at Bolton Crown Court. Mr. Temkin emphasized that Price was fully aware of the girl’s age at the time, which made his actions particularly egregious.

The grooming was uncovered when a friend of the victim noticed the inappropriate messages and subsequently alerted the girl’s mother. Acting swiftly, the mother was given access to her daughter’s Facebook login details, which revealed a disturbing pattern of communication. Upon reviewing the messages, she was reportedly horrified by the explicit content and became deeply concerned that Price and her daughter might have been planning to meet in person.

Judge Walsh, presiding over the case, detailed the nature of the communications and the defendant’s awareness of the victim’s age. He noted that Price’s messages were covert and furtive, indicating a clear intent to conceal the relationship. The court heard that Price had actively discouraged the girl from revealing their interactions, further demonstrating his manipulative approach.

In March 2020, Price pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child. The court sentenced him to a three-year community order, reflecting the seriousness of his actions. Judge Walsh remarked that the evidence presented made it evident that Price was aware of the girl’s young age and understood that his communications were meant to be secretive and illicit, underscoring the gravity of the case and the need for appropriate punishment.