WILLIAM EVANS FROM HIGHRIDGE CAUGHT IN DISTURBING ONLINE PREDATION SCHEME INVOLVING YOUNG BOYS

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Highridge, William Evans, a youth football coach, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous online crimes targeting young boys. The incident, which unfolded in early 2019, revealed a calculated effort by Evans to exploit social media platforms and his knowledge of digital technology to manipulate and sexually exploit minors.

Evans, aged 22 and residing on Portland Place in Brent Knoll, was found guilty of engaging in a series of predatory behaviors that involved luring boys aged between 10 and 13 into sending him explicit photographs. Under the guise of being a child actress, Evans used online personas to deceive his victims, convincing them to share intimate images of themselves. Once he obtained these photographs, he threatened the boys, insisting they send more, warning them that his 'internet policeman' father would arrest them if they refused. He also falsely claimed he would share the images with their friends, further intimidating and coercing the young victims.

The court heard that Evans had pleaded guilty to 19 charges of making indecent photographs. Additionally, he admitted to six charges of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child and two charges of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. The severity of his actions was underscored by the judge, Mark Horton, who sentenced him to 47 months in prison. Furthermore, Evans was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which is intended to prevent any future offending. He was also ordered to sign the sex offender register indefinitely and was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

As part of the sentencing, Evans' computer equipment was confiscated by authorities. The judge emphasized the calculated and predatory nature of Evans' crimes, stating, "This case represents a calculated, premeditated and predatory series of offending targeted very deliberately at young boys. You used social media and knowledge of computers as a weapon against those young boys and very deliberately attempted to disguise yourself and use of those systems."

Prosecutor Brendon Moorhouse detailed how police investigations uncovered the extent of Evans' misconduct. Families of the boys reported that a girl, claiming to be 11 years old, had been asking their sons to send intimate pictures. An investigation traced the online activity back to Evans, who was then living in Riverside Close, Weston-super-Mare. Authorities seized his phone and laptop, discovering over 100 photos and two videos depicting boys' private parts.

Further evidence revealed that Evans had threatened his victims, claiming that if they did not comply with his demands, he would arrest them, citing his father's false role as an online policeman. He also told some boys to expose themselves and to show their distressed faces, adding to the psychological trauma inflicted upon them. Despite his arrest and court appearance, Evans continued to attempt to evade detection by switching devices and using internet gaming platforms.

It was also revealed that Evans had sought to involve himself in youth football, having qualified as a youth coach, which raised concerns about his potential access to more children. The court's verdict underscores the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable minors from such predatory individuals.