PHILLIP ROGERS JAILED IN LONDON FOR PREDATORY PERVERTED BEHAVIOR INVOLVING YOUNG BOYS

In September 2017, Phillip Rogers, of Mallards Way, Wallington, was sentenced for engaging in predatory behavior involving young boys online. Rogers, 21 years old, was convicted of 15 counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of possessing indecent images of a child. His crimes came to light following an incident in June when an 11-year-old boy bravely confided in his mother that he was being blackmailed by a teenage girl he met on Facebook.

The boy revealed he had started chatting with the girl in February 2015. During their conversations, she shared naked photographs of herself and received a naked image of the boy in return. The girl then coerced the boy to send more images. When he refused, she threatened to send the existing naked photo to his school friends.

The victim’s mother reported the incident to West Midlands Police, prompting an investigation. Officers traced the Facebook user to an address in Wallington, south London. Subsequently, detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command executed a warrant at Rogers’ home in July 2015. Rogers denied involvement, but his computer and mobile phone were seized.

Analysis of his devices uncovered numerous images of naked teenage females and pictures of young males’ genitalia. Chat logs suggested conversations with what appeared to be teenage boys, involving the exchange of indecent images.

Rogers was arrested on October 13, 2015, and formally charged on March 3, 2017. He pleaded guilty in Croydon Crown Court on June 2, 2017, admitting to a total of 16 charges. The court sentenced him to three years and nine months in prison.

The case highlights the dangers of online grooming and exploitation, with authorities emphasizing the importance of vigilance and reporting concerning behavior to protect children.