OLIVER CIARAVELLA FROM LANGENHOE CAUGHT TRYING TO MEET 15-YEAR-OLD BOY IN BRAINTREE AFTER SENDING EXPLICIT PICTURES

In May 2020, a serious criminal case unfolded involving Oliver Ciaravella, a former science teacher at Honywood School in Coggeshall, who was found guilty of attempting to engage in a sexual act with a minor. The incident took place against the backdrop of his employment at the school, where he was responsible for educating students aged 11 to 16.

On September 20, 2017, while still working at Honywood School, Ciaravella initiated a conversation on Grindr, a mobile application primarily used for gay dating, with a profile that was actually controlled by a paedophile hunter group. During this interaction, he sent explicit images, including photographs of his penis and his bottom, clearly indicating a sexual interest. The conversation quickly turned towards arranging a meeting with what he believed was a 15-year-old boy, but in reality, he was communicating with an undercover vigilante.

According to court reports, Ciaravella, then 37 years old, falsely claimed to be 31, while the profile he contacted claimed to be 15. The two agreed to meet after school hours, with Ciaravella suggesting they could engage in oral sex. The defendant inquired about the boy’s whereabouts and why he was not in school, to which the profile responded that the boy was a 'problem child' who only attended school on Mondays and Fridays. The meeting was scheduled for 3 pm that same day.

Later that afternoon, Ciaravella drove from Coggeshall to Braintree, where police officers, alerted by the vigilante, were waiting to arrest him. He was detained at the scene and taken into custody. The police investigation revealed that Ciaravella had intended to carry out a sexual act with the minor, with the court hearing that he had suggested he would 'fellate' the boy when they met.

During the subsequent legal proceedings, Ciaravella initially pleaded not guilty, claiming he had no intention of committing a crime or knowledge that the individual he was communicating with was under 16. However, on February 27 of the following year, he changed his plea to guilty. The court was informed that prior to this incident, Ciaravella was considered a man of good character, and his career was significantly impacted by his arrest, leading to his resignation from his teaching position.

At the sentencing hearing held via video link at Chelmsford Crown Court on May 5, the judge addressed Ciaravella directly. The court noted that his guilty plea came later than it should have and emphasized the seriousness of the offence, which involved grooming behaviour and a clear intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor. The judge highlighted that the victim was a fictitious profile created by a vigilante, which meant no actual child was harmed during the incident.

Emma Nash, prosecuting, detailed the case, stating that Ciaravella was at work at the time of the offence and that he had initiated contact with the profile at 11:48 am. The explicit images he sent confirmed the sexual tone of the conversation. The court also heard that Ciaravella had lied about his age, claiming to be 31, while the profile claimed to be 15. The defendant’s actions included suggesting oral sex and discussing why the 'child' was not in school, which further demonstrated grooming behaviour.

Following his arrest, Ciaravella was sentenced to an 18-month community order, which includes participation in a sex offender programme and a 20-day rehabilitation requirement. Additionally, he is required to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, pay £500 towards court costs, and is subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online grooming and protect minors from exploitation, even when the offender’s actions are thwarted by vigilant groups.