MET POLICE TRAINEE AND ST JOHN AMBULANCE VOLUNTEER JAILED
A trainee police officer from the Metropolitan Police has been taken into custody following allegations of grooming a 14-year-old girl for sexual activity, and subsequently coercing an even younger girl into sending explicit images while on bail.Oscar Devlin, aged 25, residing on Admiral Street in Lewisham, was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, February 24.
At the time of his offending, he was undergoing policing training and volunteered with the St John Ambulance charity.
In late 2023, he engaged in grooming a 14-year-old girl, with evidence showing the pair were seen kissing, cuddling, holding hands, and at one point, the girl sitting on his lap.
There was also an incident where the girl was found in his bedroom partially clothed, according to prosecutors.
Following a police investigation, Devlin was arrested on suspicion of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and subsequently dismissed from the Metropolitan Police.
While on bail in December 2024, he initiated contact with an 11-year-old girl via Snapchat, using a false identity and claiming he was younger.
He coerced her into sending over 40 images of herself, including topless photos, and repeatedly urged her to meet him in London.
The girl’s mother uncovered the messages, leading to police involvement.
Devlin admitted guilt to charges of sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl and sending sexual communications to the 11-year-old girl.
The younger victim expressed feelings of regret in a statement, questioning her own actions and stating she blames herself despite knowing it was not her fault.
She also shared that the experience has led her to become wary of adult men and has caused her to struggle with trust.
The mother of the younger girl described her shock upon discovering the messages, stating her heart dropped and that the girl’s innocence had been irreparably harmed.
She appealed to the court for protection for other children and emphasized the impact on her daughter’s childhood.
The 11-year-old girl reflected on her loss of innocence, stating she feels different and wishes the distress had not occurred.
A probation officer who interviewed Devlin before sentencing noted he did not display genuine remorse, suggesting he was more upset about being caught and might have continued abusing children.
Judge Martyn Levett highlighted Devlin’s manipulation and grooming of both girls.
He emphasised that children are both the future and the present and deserve legal protection.
The judge condemned Devlin for a serious breach of trust involving vulnerable young girls, sentencing him to nearly three years in prison along with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Devlin has been detained since June 2025, with that time serving as part of his sentence.
