2013 – Aaron Britchford admitted inciting 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity after Facebook messages exposed
A 24-year-old man who sent sexual messages to a 13-year-old girl on Facebook admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity after the conversations were discovered and reported.
The case involving Aaron Britchford, then of Kirton, Lincolnshire, was dealt with at Lincoln Crown Court in 2013 and related to online contact with the girl in 2011. The historical report records that Britchford admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The court heard that Britchford had established contact with the 13-year-old through Facebook and gained her trust before the nature of his messages became increasingly sexual.
Prosecutor Phil Howes told the court that Britchford asked the girl what she would do if he cuddled and kissed her and questioned whether she would “grass” on him.
His messages progressed to a more explicit sexual proposition.
Mr Howes told the court there was “no doubt” about what Britchford had been hoping would happen.
The offending was uncovered after a third party saw the Facebook exchanges and alerted the girl’s mother, leading to police involvement.
Britchford admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity on 28 October 2011.
At Lincoln Crown Court, Judge James Sampson imposed a three-year community order, which included participation in a sex offenders’ group work programme.
Britchford was also prohibited from contacting the girl for three years and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.
The judge warned that Britchford presented a potential danger to young girls like the victim, while noting that the offending had fortunately not progressed beyond the online communications.
Because this is a historic case from 2013, I’d make that date prominent rather than presenting it as a recent conviction. I would also leave his old street address out of a new publication.
Sarah’s Law: Parents, carers and guardians can ask police whether someone who has contact with a child poses a risk because of a history of child sexual offending. This is formally known as the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme.