RICHARD HALL AND CHRISTOPHER HANKS FROM NORTHLEACH CAUGHT GROOMING PRE-TEEN GIRL ON WHATSAPP IN COTSWOLDS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, two men from the Cotswolds, Richard Hall and Christopher Hanks, were found guilty of engaging in a disturbing online grooming scheme involving a young girl. The incident came to light in May 2018 when the girl’s mother discovered inappropriate messages on her daughter’s phone, leading to a police investigation that uncovered a pattern of predatory behavior.

Richard Hall, aged 28 and residing on Mays Crescent, and Christopher Hanks, aged 19 from Northleach, had each separately contacted the underage girl through the popular messaging platform WhatsApp. The court heard that the two men did not coordinate their actions but independently persuaded the girl to perform sexual acts over the messaging service. The court was told that both men admitted to charges of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecutor Richard Posner explained that the two offenders had initially met the girl socially at a local club. However, there was no evidence of any face-to-face misconduct; all of the inappropriate and sexual exchanges occurred solely through WhatsApp. The case was brought to light on May 8 of the previous year when the girl’s mother, concerned about her daughter’s phone usage, asked to see her device as she was considering purchasing a new model.

While inspecting the phone, the mother received a shock when a WhatsApp message from a contact named ‘Jumbo’—which was Hall’s nickname—popped up. The message contained a graphic image of Hall exposing his private parts. The mother immediately responded by messaging Hall, calling him a pervert, and promptly contacted the police to report the incident.

Further investigation revealed that Hall had persuaded the girl to send him nude photographs of herself. In return, he had sent images of himself pleasuring himself. The messages also included threats; Hall had told her that if she did not send such images, he would cease communication with her. Additionally, he had told her that they could only become boyfriend and girlfriend once she was old enough to have sex.

Similarly, indecent images and messages from Hanks to the girl were discovered on her phone. The girl disclosed to police that she had been communicating with Hanks for approximately a month in this manner. Her interactions with Hall lasted longer, with their exchanges peaking in May and June of the previous year, during which they exchanged a staggering 1,297 WhatsApp messages. Prosecutor Posner stated that the girl was encouraged to behave in a sexualized manner during these exchanges.

In a victim impact statement, the young girl expressed her ongoing struggle to process the emotional trauma inflicted by the defendants’ actions. She conveyed feelings of guilt and shame, emphasizing her desire to move past the incident and not see her abusers again. Her mother also spoke emotionally, describing her devastation and the sense of loss in their relationship. She revealed her fears and discomfort, stating, “I didn’t want her to have her phone back,” and expressed her anger and concern over what could have happened. The mother lamented that a part of her daughter’s childhood had been stolen, and she now felt constantly anxious whenever her daughter was in her room with her computer.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC sentenced Richard Hall to four years in prison and Christopher Hanks to 28 months in a young offender institution. The judge emphasized that the offences involved emotional blackmail and grooming, which warranted immediate custodial sentences. He highlighted the seriousness of the case, noting the manipulation and exploitation involved, and underscored the importance of protecting vulnerable minors from such predatory behavior.