OXFORD MAN GUILTY OF GROOMING 15-YEAR-OLD BOY
An Oxfordshire man named Michael Reid has been found guilty of sexually grooming a 15-year-old boy he described as 'cute', 'sexy' and 'handsome'.The court heard that Reid, aged 56 and residing on Glenmore Road, Carterton, met the boy in Banbury during October 2022.
They exchanged messages via WhatsApp, and Reid later in December met the boy in person.
Reid was on trial at Oxford Crown Court, charged with both sexual grooming and sexual assault.
He denied the charges.
After a two-day trial that concluded on July 9, the jury found him guilty of grooming but not guilty of sexual assault.
Evidence presented included messages in which Reid called the boy 'cute', 'sexy', and 'handsome', and expressed a desire to see the boy's body, stating, 'I have missed your cute face.
You're beautiful, cute, sexy and handsome.
I want to see that sexy body too.' The court also heard that Reid asked the boy for photos and sent a topless picture of himself without being asked, which made the boy feel 'weird and a bit creeped out'.
Reid made statements during the messages indicating he wanted to be close to the boy because he 'fancies' him and expressed regret after an alleged incident, saying, 'When I'm with you I want to cuddle, but you don't want that which is rejection.' A police interview from May 2023 was played, where the boy explained he felt Reid was 'overly sexual' during their initial meeting, and that Reid asked for topless photos and sent one of himself topless.
Reid will be sentenced on August 8 at Oxford Crown Court.
