MICHAEL RILEY FROM TWICKENHAM JAILED FOR PREDATORY BEHAVIOR TOWARD YOUNG GIRL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Twickenham, Michael Riley, a man with a known history of sexual offenses, has been sentenced to prison for his predatory actions involving a young girl. The incident, which took place in August 2016, involved Riley contacting a 12-year-old girl with the intent to exploit her sexually and solicit explicit images, despite his status as a registered sex offender.

Riley, who resides in Hampton but has strong ties to Twickenham, was brought before Kingston Crown Court where he received a six-year prison sentence on Thursday, August 11. In addition to his incarceration, the court imposed a three-year extended license period aimed at safeguarding the public from further harm. The court's decision was based on the evidence presented, which proved Riley's guilt beyond reasonable doubt of possessing indecent images of children and attempting to arrange a meeting with a minor for sexual purposes.

Riley's criminal history is extensive and includes previous convictions related to child exploitation. He was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) following his 2009 conviction for possessing and creating indecent images of children. This order mandated the destruction of his computers and placed strict conditions on his communication with minors. Furthermore, Riley was required to register as a sex offender for life. Despite these measures, authorities discovered in 2015 that Riley had gained unauthorized access to a computer he had not declared, which he used to conduct internet searches that violated the terms of his SOPO.

Investigations revealed that Riley had 55 indecent images of children stored on his devices, along with fragments of chat messages that had been deleted. These messages were found to be sent under the alias 'Gary Holmes' with the username 'yragholmes.' The police uncovered that Riley used various social media platforms, including Kik, Skype, and WhatsApp, to contact young girls. His online activities culminated in his arrest on September 15 of the previous year.

During the police investigation, officers visited the home of a 16-year-old girl who confirmed that a man calling himself Gary Holmes had contacted her. The man had asked her to send nude photographs and to meet for sex. The girl, who was only 15 at the time, had falsely told Riley she was 12 years old. This revelation was a key piece of evidence that led to Riley’s conviction and subsequent sentencing. The case highlights the ongoing dangers posed by individuals like Riley, who exploit digital platforms to target vulnerable minors, despite existing legal restrictions and monitoring efforts.