ROBERT WOODHOUSE FROM RICHMOND SENTENCED FOR GROOMING YOUNG GIRLS IN NORTH YORKSHIRE

In October 2013, a serious case of online grooming and child exploitation came to light involving Robert Woodhouse, a resident of Richmond in North Yorkshire. The court heard how Woodhouse, aged 24, engaged in a disturbing pattern of attempting to lure young girls into sexual activities through social media platforms, specifically Facebook.

At the time of his arrest, Woodhouse was already on police bail due to an ongoing investigation into another suspected offence. Despite this, he continued his inappropriate conduct by reaching out to minors via Facebook. After police deactivated his original account, he went as far as creating a new profile to maintain contact with vulnerable teenagers. His actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for legal restrictions and the safety of minors.

During the proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, prosecutor Shaun Dodds revealed that police had uncovered incriminating text messages on Woodhouse’s mobile phone. These messages included explicit language and sexual references, indicating a clear intent to engage in sexual activities with underage girls. The investigation was already underway when police discovered that Woodhouse had made a 'friend request' to a 15-year-old girl and had persistently texted her, asking her to send nude photographs of herself.

Further evidence showed that Woodhouse had attempted to arrange a meeting with another girl, aged 14, despite her clearly stating her age and that he was a stranger. His continued efforts to contact and exploit these young girls highlighted a pattern of predatory behavior that alarmed the authorities.

In his defense, Uzma Khan, representing Woodhouse, explained that the defendant was experiencing relationship difficulties and that his reactions were highly inappropriate. She also referenced a pre-sentence report suggesting that Woodhouse could benefit from a sex offenders’ treatment program, which might be an alternative to imprisonment. However, Judge Michael Taylor dismissed this argument, emphasizing the severity of Woodhouse’s actions.

Judge Taylor stated that he would be failing in his duty if he did not impose a custodial sentence. He described Woodhouse’s behavior as persistent and involving graphic exchanges, which were particularly disturbing given the age of the victims. The judge underscored that young girls of that age should not be engaging in such explicit conversations with men in their twenties.

Consequently, Woodhouse was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Additionally, he was subjected to a lifetime sexual offences prevention order, restricting his internet access and contact with children under 16. He had already been registered as a sex offender for the next ten years, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.