NATHAN READ FROM GORTON, MANCHESTER, SPARED JAIL AFTER GROOMING A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In September 2017, Nathan Read, a 26-year-old man from Gorton, Manchester, was given a community order instead of jail time after grooming a 14-year-old girl.A judge described him as ‘vulnerable’ and believed he would be at risk if incarcerated.
Read was found guilty of convincing the girl to send him naked photographs and was sentenced to a three-year community order.
As part of his sentence, he must complete a sex offenders’ programme.
Prosecutor Justin Hayhoe explained that Read initially contacted the girl on Omegle, a website that randomly pairs strangers for chats.
The girl, along with another teenager, had used the platform for fun, which led to a 30-minute conversation with Read.
Subsequently, Read encouraged her to continue talking via Kik Messenger, falsely claiming he was 18.
Over the following days and weeks, their messages grew more sexual.
Read asked the girl for naked pictures, promising to send images of his genitals in return.
He also persuaded her to perform a sex act on herself during a video webcam chat.
During their exchanges, Read threatened to commit suicide if she ceased communication.
After about six months, the girl’s phone was confiscated by her parents, prompting police intervention.
When officers arrested Read, they seized a laptop, mobile phone, and a memory stick, all containing 40 indecent images.
It was revealed that Read studied IT at college and received a distinction.
Justin Hayhoe commented, “This is a man who knew exactly what he was doing.” The case also highlighted concerns about Omegle and Kik Messenger, which have faced criticism over their links to child sexual exploitation.
Read is alleged to have contacted eight other children online, some as young as eight.
The judge noted that Read, of Goulder Road, Gorton, posed a ‘minimal risk of further offending’ and emphasized the importance of giving him time for rehabilitation.
Addressing Read directly, the judge said, “You are being given an opportunity because I believe it’s in the best interests of the public at large.” Read admitted to two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of possessing indecent images of children.
He is also required to sign the sex offenders register for five years.
