LONDON MAN JAILED FOR GROOMING AND ABDUCTING DORSET TEEN
A MAN groomed a child for months and shared sexual fantasies of ‘taking in a runaway’, before abducting them, a court heard.Maximillian Muskath, 26, of Harcourt Road in London, harboured the child in his mother’s home before police found the youth in pain and distress.Prosecutor, Tom Wright, told Bournemouth Crown Court on June 26, that Muskath met the Dorset teenager on Discord where the pair exchanged messages.The child made it clear they were underage and expressed personal vulnerabilities.However, Muskath soon turned the conversation to sexual topics and sent graphic inappropriate images.
Mr Wright added how Muskath shared his sexual fantasies, including domination and wanting to run away together.
Soon, they discussed practicalities of meeting including journey arrangements and avoiding detection.
Muskath convinced the child to throw away their phone, which was described as their “lifeline”.Police later found the child in Muskath’s home, sharing with his mother, showing pain and distress.
The child had no memory of the time with Muskath, but forensic evidence showed his DNA on the child's pyjamas.
A victim impact statement from the child's mother described it as “devastating” to see their child lose faith in people, noting the child was “vibrant, kind and resilient” but now “a shell of themselves” due to betrayal.Following his arrest, police found indecent images of children on Muskath’s devices, some dating back to 2017.
Muskath pleaded guilty to child abduction, meeting a child following grooming, possession of prohibited images, and three counts of making indecent images of children.
A mitigation statement claimed Muskath “is not a sexual predator” and has vulnerabilities of his own.
Muskath expressed remorse, stating he was “deeply sorry” and that the incident was the ‘biggest shame of his life’.Judge Jonathon Fuller KC remarked that Muskath “masqueraded” as a friend and protector, even warning the child of predators on the internet, but his true motive was sexual, disregarding the harm caused.
Muskath was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison, with a five-year restraining order from the victim and Bournemouth area, a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and indefinite inclusion on the sex offenders register.
