A 20-year-old man who groomed young girls with explicit sexual messages on Facebook has been sent back to a young offenders institution where he lives “in perpetual fear”.
Alex Preece contacted six girls aged 13 or 14 and met two of them on separate occasions. He kissed one and grabbed a second girl’s breasts, Michael Conry, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court.
Preece, of Moat Crescent, Malvern, admitted 14 sexual offences, including grooming and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He had contacted five girls initally, starting when he was 17 in 2011.
All of the girls he targeted were too distressed and embarrassed to tell anyone and the offences only came to light when explicit messages were seen by other members of a girl’s family.
He was arrested and given a sexual harm order but he also admitted breaching this when he contacted the sixth girl. Preece sent pictures of himself on a webcam committing a sexual act. He also made explicit suggestions to them about sexual activity and suggested they send pictures of themselves.
All of the girls had initially lied about their age because the minimum allowed on Facebook is 16, Mr Conry said, but they had all soon made Preece aware of their real ages and he continued to send them messages.
Adam Western, defending, said Preece had been in a young offenders institution since his arrest for the breach four months ago.
“It is his first taste of custody and he is living in perpetual fear,” Mr Western said. “There is no vulnerable offenders wing and he knows others who have committed similar crimes have been attacked.” Mr Western said a report showed Preece had a moderate to low risk of re-offending.
Judge Michael Cullum said one of the girls had described how she had been a “confident, happy-go-lucky” 13-year-old until Preece entered her life but now she had lost her confidence and did not like herself. “It could have a lifelong effect,” he told Preece.
Preece was given two years and eight months in custody minus the time already served. He will have a sexual offences prevention order for 10 years which will restrict access to children under 16. He will also have to sign the sex offenders register for life.
