SHAUN HAYES FROM OLDBURY SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY ONLINE BEHAVIOR INVOLVING SCHOOLGIRLS IN WOLVERHAMPTON

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Oldbury community and beyond, Shaun Hayes, a 43-year-old man from Oldbury, has been sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in a series of heinous online predatory activities targeting young girls. The case was heard at Wolverhampton Crown Court, where the court was presented with evidence of Hayes's malicious attempts to exploit vulnerable minors through digital means.

According to the court proceedings, Hayes engaged in deceptive online practices by masquerading as a 14-year-old boy. His primary aim was to lure young girls into engaging in sexual acts, which he encouraged through internet chatrooms. The court heard that Hayes’s actions were calculated and manipulative, with the intent to exploit and sexually gratify himself at the expense of innocent minors.

Judge Michael Dudley, presiding over the case, emphasized the severity of Hayes’s conduct. In his sentencing remarks, the judge highlighted that Hayes posed a “significant” risk of causing further harm, underscoring the importance of protecting the public from individuals like him. The judge also pointed out that Hayes’s possession of computer programs typically used by forensic investigators investigating similar crimes was an aggravating factor, indicating a level of premeditation and technical knowledge that made his actions even more concerning.

The court revealed that Hayes was already on license from a previous six-year prison sentence, which he served for convictions related to rape, indecent assault, and the production of indecent images of children. Despite this, he continued to engage in criminal behavior, contacting a schoolgirl while still under supervision. Authorities discovered that Hayes’s computer equipment, seized from his residence at Radnall House, contained numerous indecent images of children, further illustrating his ongoing predatory tendencies.

Prosecutor Paul Reid detailed how Hayes had contacted young boys and girls, pretending to be a fellow 14-year-old, in order to manipulate them into sexual activities. One particular girl was persuaded to engage in sexual acts, which Hayes appeared to derive sexual pleasure from. The court heard that Hayes admitted to multiple charges, including inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images of children, possessing such images, and distributing them.

Judge Dudley expressed concern over the timing of Hayes’s offenses, noting that they occurred shortly after he had completed a Sexual Offenders Programme following his earlier convictions. This raised questions about his rehabilitation and the effectiveness of previous interventions.

Representing Hayes, his defense solicitor Sharon Bailey acknowledged that Hayes had been ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was barred from working with children. She stated that his interactions with the schoolgirl had been limited to online meetings, suggesting a degree of restraint. However, the court’s view was that Hayes’s actions demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior that warranted a substantial custodial sentence to prevent further harm to vulnerable minors.