TONY HARRIS FROM RAMSGATE SENTENCED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN CANTERBURY

In March 2020, a disturbing case unfolded involving Tony Harris, a 47-year-old resident of Clements Road in Ramsgate, who engaged in a sinister online grooming scheme targeting a vulnerable child. The incident was ultimately exposed when Harris was caught in a sting operation conducted by undercover police officers.

Harris had been actively using the social media platform Kik, where he repeatedly sent explicit messages, images, and videos to a user he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. However, this user was actually an undercover officer posing as a young girl named KellyKell12X. The police investigation revealed that Harris, under the pseudonym Mark Jackson, portrayed himself as an athletic stripper from London, attempting to conceal his true identity.

During the exchanges, Harris was told that Kelly was only 12 years old and in care, which she explained was to avoid getting into trouble. Prosecutors detailed that Harris then tried to persuade Kelly to download specialized software that would encrypt their conversations, and he urged her to perform a sexual act. His attempts to groom her escalated over time, with Harris returning under different aliases to continue his efforts.

As his confidence grew, Harris eventually logged in using his real name and explicitly requested Kelly to perform more serious sexual acts on herself. The police responded swiftly once these incriminating communications were identified. Officers visited Harris’s residence on Clements Road, where he was cautioned and subsequently arrested. During police interviews, Harris denied any intention to meet the child, stating “I don’t arrange to meet them,” and he chose to give no comment during subsequent interviews.

Harris’s defense argued that his actions were influenced by personal struggles, including a breakup and the recent death of his pet, which led to feelings of depression and social withdrawal. Barrister Simon Taylor explained that Harris had fallen into a downward spiral of grief and mental health issues, which he claimed contributed to his offending behavior during April and May of 2018.

The court, presided over by Judge Rupert Lowe, found Harris guilty of attempting to sexually communicate with a child and inciting sexual activity on two counts. Harris was sentenced to three years in prison. Additionally, the judge imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which will restrict Harris’s activities and presence on the internet upon his release. Harris was also ordered to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Judge Lowe addressed Harris directly, stating, “Following the loss of a relationship and the loss of a pet, you became very depressed, barely leaving your flat and spending a significant amount of time on the computer. You began seeking increasingly extreme methods of sexual gratification before finally attempting to corrupt a 12-year-old in care.” Harris, dressed in a grey shirt and dark jacket, nodded silently as the sentence was handed down, fully aware of the serious consequences of his actions.