STEPHEN HODSON FROM CLEETHORPES CAUGHT IN DISTURBING FACEBOOK SEXUAL PLOT INVOLVING 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In June 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Stephen Hodson, a 41-year-old man from Kingsway, Cleethorpes, who engaged in inappropriate online behavior targeting a young girl. Hodson pretended to be a 16-year-old boy during conversations on Facebook, where he made sexually explicit and offensive remarks to an 11-year-old girl. The exchanges, which lasted several months, included Hodson asking the girl whether she was a 'good girl or a bad girl' and suggesting that she would engage in 'rude' activities when she was older.

He also inquired if she was alone and whether anyone else could see their messages, indicating an attempt to gauge her comfort and privacy. Hodson requested a photograph of her face, which she refused to send, and falsely claimed to be 16 years old. Despite the inappropriate nature of their chats, the girl did not reciprocate or engage in sexual conversations, and she eventually blocked Hodson on Facebook. However, the conversations were discovered later when her mother found them on her daughter's iPad.

The mother was left feeling 'sick and angry' upon seeing the messages, highlighting the distress caused by Hodson's actions. The case was brought before Grimsby Crown Court, where Andrew Bailey, the prosecutor, detailed the timeline and nature of the interactions. Hodson's behavior was deemed entirely inappropriate and disturbing, especially considering the age of the victim.

During the court proceedings, Richard Hackfath, representing Hodson, explained that he led a lonely and isolated life, suffering from serious health issues and having been bullied at school. Hackfath emphasized that Hodson spent excessive time alone, which led him to seek solace online, ultimately resulting in criminal behavior. He clarified that there was no evidence of Hodson attempting to meet the girl in person or requesting indecent photos from her.

Hodson, who had no prior convictions aside from a caution for assault in 2008, was described as naive by his legal representative. The judge, Recorder Tahir Khan QC, acknowledged that Hodson had pretended to be a minor and engaged in months of online chatting, which was deemed highly inappropriate. The court was told that Hodson's actions caused significant distress to the girl and her mother.

As part of his sentence, Hodson received a three-year community order that includes participation in a sex offenders' treatment program. Additionally, he was issued a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from contacting the girl and restricts his interactions with other children. He is also required to register as a sex offender for ten years and pay a statutory charge of £60. The case underscores the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting minors from exploitation.