OLIVER ANTHONY AND SHOCKING PAEDOPHILE ACTS IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
A convicted predator, Oliver Anthony, has been handed a three-year prison sentence after engaging in disturbing and manipulative behavior towards a young girl in Gloucestershire.The case came to light following a proactive effort by the girl’s mother, who took it upon herself to initiate a police investigation after the authorities initially declined to act.
The incident dates back to June 2020, when the mother discovered suspicious messages between her daughter and Anthony, who resided on Egdon Crescent in Cheltenham.
Recognizing the potential danger, she intervened by taking control of the communication in an attempt to uncover Anthony’s identity and to safeguard her child.
The police, however, initially decided not to pursue the matter, causing frustration for the concerned mother.
According to the court proceedings, prosecutors detailed the extent of Anthony’s predatory behavior through a series of messages exchanged over a period, which ultimately led to his arrest.
The story begins with a message from Anthony, who had acquired a new SIM card through his partner, sending a seemingly innocent greeting of 'Hi ya xx.' When the girl’s mother intervened, she challenged Anthony, asking, 'Whos this?' to which he falsely claimed to be someone named Ben Howell, expressing an interest in her.
Anthony then took a further step by sending a photograph of his face, which the girl refused to acknowledge, clearly stating she did not know him and declining any desire to establish a relationship.
He falsely claimed he was 20 years old and attempted to persuade her to converse more by saying, 'Wanna chat anyway?' After a short absence, he resumed contact with flirtatious and inappropriate messages such as 'Hey babe, text back xx' and requesting a selfie with the message 'Send a picture and I’ll send one back.' Further messages included pleas like 'Please reply, I miss you,' and 'Come on babe, text me xx,' all while her brother was using her device.
The girl’s mother, alarmed by the constant influx of messages, took possession of the phone and reported the matter to Leicestershire Police on June 28.
Despite their initial investigations, the police did not immediately take action, even after the mother continued to engage with Anthony herself.
The communication between Anthony and the mother escalated to a troubling exchange, where she sent him a photograph of a young girl, prompting him to respond, 'Dam you are hot, how old are you?' She responded that she was 12 years old.
Soon after, Anthony sent a graphic image of his private parts and solicited intimate images of the girl, instructing her to keep their interaction secret out of fear that police involvement could reveal their conversations.
During this exchange, he also fabricated his identity, claiming to be 'Chris' and claiming he was at his father's house, asserting he was 18.
The mother ceased replying for a time, but received a message from Anthony on July 12, suggesting he was trying to rekindle contact by asking if she was ignoring him and threatening to delete her number.
As the communication continued, Anthony adopted different aliases, falsely claiming to be 'Chris Hale' and explaining that his previous claim of being 20 was a precaution if she had been an older teen.
Throughout the dialogue, he repeatedly reassured and deceived her, even sending a photocopy of a passport bearing a different name to bolster his fabricated identity.
The mother persisted in confronting him and, after more manipulations and false pretenses, she finally informed him on September 8 that she had been in contact with him rather than her daughter.
This revelation prompted her to furnish the police with additional evidence.
Following a subscriber check, Anthony was arrested on suspicion of engaging in sexual communication with a minor.
During questioning, Anthony claimed that he had lost the phone while on holiday at Centre Parcs, which he said was around the time of the incident.
His defense lawyer, Lloyd Jenkins, acknowledged the severity and repugnant nature of Anthony’s misconduct, emphasizing that Anthony himself recognized the likelihood of a custodial sentence.
Jenkins also noted that the offender had been diagnosed with schizophrenia 13 years prior and was dealing with alcoholism, which he argued contributed to his state of mind during the offenses, exacerbated by lockdown boredom.
Anthony pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to incite a girl aged 12 into sexual activity and seeking to obtain sexual gratification through communication.
The crimes spanned from June 26 to July 10, 2020, during which he attempted to engage the girl in sexual acts and sent explicit messages.
Judge Ian Lawrie QC addressed Anthony directly in court, stating, 'This offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified, and the least possible sentence I can impose considering the severity is three years.' Additionally, Anthony was subjected to a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for the same period, underscoring the gravity of his actions and the ongoing risk he poses to the community in Gloucestershire.
