SAM BARTLETT FROM RUSHALL SENTENCED FOR ONLINE GROOMING OF 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN WOLVERHAMPTON

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Rushall and the wider Wolverhampton area, Sam Bartlett, aged 25, has been sentenced to prison for his heinous crimes involving the grooming and exploitation of an 11-year-old girl through online platforms. The incident came to light after the young girl’s mother discovered troubling activity on her mobile phone, leading to a police investigation that uncovered Bartlett’s sinister actions.

According to court reports, Bartlett had initially established contact with the girl on Facebook, using a false identity to conceal his true intentions. Despite her initial refusal to engage, Bartlett persisted in his attempts to communicate, falsely claiming to be a student in the sixth form at her school. He then proceeded to flatter her, telling her she “should be a model,” and encouraged her to send explicit images and videos of herself. Some of these images depicted her in her underwear, which is a grave violation of her innocence and trust.

The situation escalated when Bartlett asked the young girl to take photographs of her younger sister, who was only seven years old, raising serious concerns about his intentions and the potential for further abuse. The girl’s mother, upon noticing her daughter had blocked a contact named Bartlett on her phone, became suspicious. A further search revealed that the girl had received and blocked messages from Bartlett, prompting her mother to investigate further. She discovered several explicit images and videos, which she promptly reported to the police.

Law enforcement officials responded swiftly, arresting Bartlett on March 11, 2015. During the investigation, officers seized a hard drive and a laptop computer from Bartlett’s residence in Springfields, Rushall. A forensic examination of these devices uncovered hundreds of indecent images, including 66 categorized as the most serious Category A, along with one video. Additionally, there were 33 images and one video classified as Category B, and 163 images with 12 videos falling into Category C. Despite these findings, police were unable to access other devices seized from Bartlett because he refused to provide passwords, leading to the suspicion that more illicit material was stored on those devices.

Further concerns were raised when police learned of possible additional online contacts Bartlett had with a girl in Scotland. However, no formal complaint had been made regarding this contact, and details about the Scottish girl remain unknown, as stated by prosecutor Miss Michelle Heeley.

Bartlett faced multiple charges, including ten counts of possessing indecent images and one count of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. The court heard the full extent of his crimes, which demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior aimed at exploiting vulnerable minors.

In sentencing, Bartlett was handed a prison term of five years and four months. Furthermore, he is subject to a sexual offences prevention order for 20 years, which restricts his activities and contact with minors. He will also be registered on the sex offenders register indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct and preventing further harm to the community.