HACKNEY MAN SERKAN KARAKAS SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN NORTHAMPTON

The court heard harrowing details of how a 31-year-old man from Hackney, Sercan Karakas, was convicted and subsequently sentenced to over five years in prison for engaging in child sex offences in Northampton. The incident has left a lasting impact on the young victim, who was described as being mentally and emotionally devastated for years due to Karakas’s actions.

On Friday, May 5, Northampton Crown Court heard the case against Karakas, who appeared before the court after being found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child. The proceedings revealed that Karakas had initiated contact with the young girl through online messaging platforms, fully aware of her tender age. Despite knowing she was underage, he requested intimate photographs from her and sent her explicit images and videos of himself performing sexual acts.

Further details emerged that Karakas traveled from his residence in Hackney, London, to Northampton to meet the girl in person for sexual activity. The victim’s parents discovered the inappropriate messages after confiscating her phone, which contained the exchanged sexual communications with Karakas. This discovery prompted them to report the matter to the police, leading to his arrest. During police interviews, Karakas denied having any sexual contact with the girl, claiming that he was waiting until she was “old enough” to engage in such activities.

The victim provided a statement to the court, describing the profound and lasting damage caused by Karakas’s actions. She stated that he had “mentally and emotionally ruined” her for years, emphasizing the ongoing emotional toll and the difficulty she faced in overcoming the trauma.

In mitigation, Paul Webb, representing Karakas, described him as a hardworking individual who was employed as an architect at the time of the offences. Webb highlighted that Karakas was of previously good character and that there was no evidence to suggest any further offending. He also addressed the age disparity between the defendant and the victim, suggesting that the girl was mature for her age and that Karakas was immature for his. Webb pointed out that Karakas had been honest about his age and that the relationship ended at the girl’s own request.

Judge’s sentencing reflected the seriousness of the offences. Karakas was sentenced to a term of five years and eight months in prison. Additionally, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed for a period of ten years to restrict his future contact with minors and prevent any further harm.

This case underscores the devastating impact of online grooming and child exploitation, highlighting the importance of vigilance and swift legal action to protect vulnerable young individuals from predators.