RICHARD TAYLOR SHAMES CHICKERELL WITH SEXUAL GROOMING AND TEXT MESSAGE SCANDAL

In November 2012, a disturbing case of sexual exploitation involving a local sports coach has come to light in the town of Chickerell. Richard Taylor, aged 41 and residing on Browns Crescent, appeared before Dorchester Crown Court to face serious charges related to the grooming and sexual misconduct of two teenage girls.

Taylor was charged with two counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He had previously admitted to these charges during an earlier hearing, acknowledging his involvement in the inappropriate conduct.

Prosecutor Simon Jones provided detailed insights into the case, revealing that police investigators examined Taylor’s mobile phone and discovered approximately 100 text messages exchanged between him and the two girls. Some of these messages contained sexually explicit content, raising significant concerns about the nature of their communication.

The victims were identified as one girl aged 14 and another aged between 14 and 15 at the time of the offences, which spanned from December of the previous year through September 2012. The court was informed that Taylor had made arrangements to meet the girls at his residence with the apparent intention of getting them intoxicated and engaging in sexual activities.

The case came to public attention in September when the mother of one of the girls discovered the content of her daughter’s mobile phone. She had become increasingly worried about her daughter’s texting habits in recent weeks, which prompted her to investigate further. Her discovery revealed the disturbing messages and plans that Taylor had made.

During police interviews, Taylor admitted to sending explicit texts, claiming that he had been foolish, flattered, and carried away by the situation. His remorse was acknowledged during the proceedings, with mitigation lawyer Jamie Porter emphasizing that Taylor, who was described as a man of previously good character, deeply regretted his actions. Porter also noted that Taylor did not intend to meet the girls on the day they had planned to do so.

Judge Roger Jarvis sentenced Taylor to a term of two years and four months imprisonment for each of the four counts, with all sentences to run concurrently. Additionally, Taylor was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and was disqualified from working with children. The court also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which remains in effect until further notice.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Jarvis condemned Taylor for exploiting the natural curiosity of adolescence and for manipulating the young girls’ feelings of excitement and interest. The judge described Taylor as a predatory individual and a manipulator, emphasizing the serious breach of trust involved in his actions.

Furthermore, a victim impact statement was read out, in which the mother of one of the girls expressed her shock and disgust at Taylor’s behavior. She recounted how she had spoken to her daughter after discovering the messages, only to find her upset and blaming herself. The mother revealed that her daughter was distressed by the plans to visit Taylor’s house while his wife was away, highlighting the emotional toll of the incident on the young victims.