ABINGDON SEX OFFENDER JAILED FOR MESSAGING YOUNG GIRL
A registered sex offender has been imprisoned for a second time after being discovered sending messages to a 12-year-old girl.Michael Meyer was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Monday (April 8) after he was found communicating with a minor and requesting her to reveal her body.
The 44-year-old was originally imprisoned in 2017 at Northampton Crown Court for possessing indecent images of children, viewing extreme pornography, and voyeurism, after being caught filming a young girl in the shower.
Residing on Norman Avenue in Abingdon, Meyer appeared in court charged with attempting to have sexual communications with a minor, failing to update his notification requirements, and violating a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
The judge, Maria Lamb, sentenced him to 17 months in prison, emphasizing that Meyer's previous offenses were grave and justified a substantial custodial term.
She also noted that despite efforts to deter future offenses, Meyer's attempts had failed, and she dismissed any potential for rehabilitation.
From September 2023 to February 2024, Meyer used the Telegram messaging app to contact a young girl, asking her questions like whether she "had a nice bum" and requesting her to show her body.
During police inquiries, he also acknowledged possessing ten bank cards that he had not registered with authorities, as required under a prior court order.
Meyer explained that he was feeling depressed due to his mother’s passing and believed the girl was over 16.
He added he had not registered the bank cards because he was busy working as an HGV driver.
His defense attorney described Meyer as remorseful and ashamed, noting he is considered ‘low-risk’ but still pose a danger to children.
Judge Lamb pointed out that there was minimal mitigating evidence and reiterated that the orders are designed to safeguard children and vulnerable individuals.