HENBURY PREDATOR MICHAEL BRIANT GROOMS YOUNG GIRLS ONLINE IN BRISTOL AND WESTON-SUPER-MARE

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers lurking within internet chat rooms, Michael Briant, a 19-year-old resident of Clavell Road, Henbury, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison at Bristol Crown Court for a series of heinous crimes involving the grooming and exploitation of young girls. The court heard that Briant targeted vulnerable girls aged between 11 and 14, using popular social networking sites and instant messaging platforms to lure his victims into a web of sexual predation.

Throughout the investigation, authorities uncovered that Briant engaged in a pattern of deceit and manipulation. He frequently lied about his age, attempting to convince young girls that he was older in order to facilitate sexual encounters. His online activities included sending explicit photographs of himself to schoolgirls and offering monetary incentives, such as £200 and a BlackBerry mobile phone, in exchange for sexual favors. One particularly alarming incident involved Briant persuading a 13-year-old girl to meet him in a car park, where he subsequently engaged in sexual activity with her on two separate occasions.

Using the social network Tagged, which is designed for users aged 12 to 14, along with MSN Messenger, Briant befriended numerous young girls, obtaining their mobile phone numbers and email addresses. He dedicated hours each day to browsing chat rooms, scrutinizing profile pictures, and sending flattering messages to establish a false sense of friendship. Once trust was established, he would escalate his advances with sexual propositions, demonstrating a clear pattern of grooming behavior.

Despite his arrest and the seizure of his laptop, Briant continued his predatory conduct. The court was informed that he shifted to using his wireless media device, an iPod Touch, to persistently seek out new victims. Police discovered a vast collection of indecent images and videos of children on his devices, including a disturbing video depicting abuse of a three-year-old child. In total, authorities found 1,079 indecent images and 514 movies related to child exploitation, with some printed images discovered in a shoebox under his bed.

Briant pleaded guilty to 28 sexual offenses, which included 12 counts related to sexual activity and grooming of minors, and 16 counts involving possession of indecent images. The prosecution revealed that his offending spanned from March 2010 to May of the previous year. Prosecutor Richard Posner described Briant as a textbook internet predator, noting that he quickly revealed his intentions to his victims and demonstrated a disturbing pattern of collecting and storing child pornography.

Further details emerged during the trial, including that Briant, at the age of 17, befriended a 13-year-old girl online and convinced her to meet him at a car park in Nailsea. He then drove her to Weston-super-Mare, where they began a sexual relationship, with the girl later expressing regret and feeling that the age difference was inappropriate. The court also heard that Briant falsely claimed to be 16 when speaking to other victims, including a 12-year-old girl whom he called “fit and stunning.”

The case came to light after one of Briant’s victims reported him to the police on May 19 of the previous year. During his arrest, he made dismissive comments to officers, claiming that victims often said they were older than they truly were. Despite being bailed, Briant continued his online pursuits, seeking out additional young girls, including two 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old.

Defense lawyer Stephen Mooney described Briant as an immature individual who was only recently turned 18, suggesting that his actions stemmed from a distorted view of sexuality, possibly influenced by personal difficulties and early interactions with girls of his own age. Mooney expressed hope that Briant would seek treatment for what he called “an obsession” and “a demon,” emphasizing that probation officers did not see him as beyond help.

As Briant was led away to serve his sentence, relatives of his victims watched silently. Judge Mark Horton emphasized the grave danger posed by internet predators and the vulnerability of young people online. He warned of the “hidden garden” of chat rooms where predators lie in wait, urging greater protection for children from their own curiosity and desire to grow up too quickly. The judge also imposed a sexual offences prevention order on Briant, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring to prevent further harm.