TRISTAN TAPNER GROOMS 14-YEAR-OLD IN PILTON USING SKYPE, ESCAPES JAIL SENTENCE

In December 2013, a disturbing case emerged involving Tristan Tapner, a 33-year-old man from Culverhill Cottages in Pilton, who engaged in a serious grooming offense targeting a 14-year-old girl. The incident came to light after Tapner used the social media platform Skype to communicate with the young girl, initiating a series of sexually explicit exchanges that would have grave consequences.

According to court reports, Tapner asked the girl if she liked older men and expressed a desire to spend a night with him. The girl, in a vulnerable state, responded affirmatively, which led to a series of increasingly inappropriate conversations. Prosecutor William Hunter detailed that their exchanges included sexually explicit messages, the sharing of indecent photographs, and Tapner’s request for images of the girl in her school uniform. These exchanges demonstrated a clear intent to exploit her youth and innocence.

The situation escalated when the pair agreed to meet for sexual activity in Tapner’s car. However, their plans were thwarted after rumors about the meeting circulated within their community. An anonymous tip-off to the police prompted officers to intervene. The police met with the girl, who disclosed that she was scheduled to meet Tapner the following day for sex. Acting swiftly, law enforcement officers waited at the designated meeting spot and arrested Tapner when he arrived.

During the court proceedings, Tapner’s defense lawyer, Mr. A. Western, described him as a forklift truck driver who was deeply ashamed of his actions. Despite the gravity of the case, the judge, David Ticehurst, opted against a custodial sentence, instead imposing a three-year community order. This included mandatory participation in a Thames Valley sex offenders’ program, which aims to address the underlying issues contributing to such behavior.

Furthermore, Tapner was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years and was subject to a sex offenders prevention order with no fixed end date. Judge Ticehurst emphasized the role of social media platforms like Skype in facilitating such predatory behavior, stating that these tools provide opportunities for sexual predators to target and abuse vulnerable young people.

In his sentencing remarks, the judge acknowledged Tapner’s guilty pleas to charges of inciting a child to sexual activity and sexual grooming. He noted that Tapner had shown genuine remorse and that his actions had not progressed beyond grooming, with no evidence of further offenses. The offenses had been committed approximately 15 months prior, and there had been no recurrence since.

Additionally, Tapner was ordered to pay costs amounting to £1,900, payable at a rate of £20 per week. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the dangers posed by social media and the importance of vigilance in protecting young people from exploitation.