RICKY PARTON FROM CANNOCK SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL NEAR CANNOCK CHASE

In a case that has shocked the local community of Cannock, Staffordshire, Ricky Parton, a 20-year-old man, was sentenced to 20 months in young offender detention after being found guilty of grooming a 14-year-old girl and engaging in sexual activity with her. The incident took place near the popular Cannock Chase area, specifically around Marquis Drive, where the young girl was lured into a dangerous situation by the defendant.

According to court proceedings, Parton initially established a friendly relationship with the girl, maintaining regular contact through text messages. Over time, these messages took on a more sinister tone, with Parton gradually escalating the conversation to include sexual content. Prosecutor Miss Michelle Heeley explained that Parton explicitly asked the girl to send him nude photographs of herself. Although the girl did send two images, she was not the one depicted in the photographs, indicating a possible attempt to manipulate or deceive.

In July of the previous year, the situation escalated further when Parton arranged to meet the girl in person. He picked her up in his car and drove her to a secluded spot near the Cannock Chase visitor centre on Marquis Drive. It was there that the two engaged in kissing, and Parton then suggested they have sex. Despite the girl’s apparent reluctance, he proceeded to have sexual intercourse with her. The girl’s father became aware of the incident after she returned home, and his concern prompted him to take her to the hospital for medical examination and support.

During the court hearing, Miss Heeley emphasized that Parton was fully aware of the girl’s age but chose to ignore the law and proceed with his actions. The court found that his behavior demonstrated a clear breach of legal and moral boundaries, with evidence of grooming and premeditation. Parton, who resides on Pye Green Road in Cannock, admitted to charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child and making indecent photographs of a child.

Judge Michael Chambers QC addressed Parton directly, stating, “She was a vulnerable 14-year-old. There has been an element of grooming and planning. You intended it to be a sexual relationship and that is the seriousness of the matter.” As part of his sentence, Parton was ordered to serve time in a young offender institution and to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, a measure designed to protect the community and prevent further offenses. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable minors from predatory behavior in the Cannock area and beyond.