"Extremely prolific" paedophile jailed for 30 years after grooming 45 children with fake identities

A Cheshire man convicted of grooming 45 children whilst posing as a model scout has been sentenced to 30 years behind bars.

David Harmes, 27, from Winsford contacted over 300 children whilst on licence following his release from prison for similar offences.

The court heard he would encourage children to engage in explicit acts whilst pretending he was trying to recruit models for popular high-street fashion brands.

The charges relate to 39 children in the UK and 6 in the US.

He would contact children, some as young as six via Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok and invite them to earn £1,200 by taking part in a 'four stage' audition process which became increasingly sexualised.

Harmes would record the children using screen-recording software and keep the videos on his laptop as well as making 'compilations' of his victims.

Prosecution barristers described how if the children became suspicious and stopped cooperating, Harmes would threaten to publish the videos online.

During an extensive investigation, police found 2,100 incident images on his laptop and phone, 1,200 of which were 'Category A' indecent images - the most serious kind.

Harmes would watermark with his initials, potentially for distribution to other paedophiles as well as edit and "catalogue" the footage.

Specialist forensic officers were able to track down Harmes using his IP address and Instagram accounts before identifying him using a video where he accidentally turned his camera on during a call.

Harmes will spend at least two-thirds of the 30 years behind bars before being put on an extended licence.

He will also be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and required to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Harmes had just been released following similar offences

Harmes pleaded guilty to all 88 offences on the 24th of July.

He committed the offences less than six months after being released from prison on a licence following similar crimes.

In 2016 Harmes was sentenced to 8 years after admitting 35 sexual offences against 28 children.

He served 5 years in prison and was released in February 2019 to serve the remaining 3 years on licence. In July 2019 Harmes began committing his crimes again.

'Low and disgusting with a sick fetish'

In a statement read out in court on behalf of one of Harmes' victims, she said: "You probably won't remember me as there were many other boys and girls, I don't remember much of you either.

"I've always been a shy girl, I am embarrassed to tell people but I don’t want anyone else to go through it.

"You took advantage of me and all these other girls and boys... I really hope this time how low and disgusting the things you’ve done are."

A statement from another victim read "Why would you strip boys and girls of their innocence for your sick fetish."

"Poses a very high risk of serious harm to children"

In his sentencing remarks His Honour Judge Berkson said: "This was well-planned and sophisticated criminal behaviour.

"You were able to keep and catalogue your crimes. You clearly have a sexual interest in the sexual abuse of young children

Your sexual behaviour only ended when you were spoken to by the police and I've no doubt it would have continued had you not been stopped.

"You are assessed as posing a very high risk of further offending and posing a very high risk of serious harm to children."

Detective Superintendent Simon Draco said: “This has been a complex and meticulous investigation with international victims that has resulted in the conviction of Harmes and will bring justice for the victims of his offending.

“Cheshire Constabulary has an investigation team dedicated to targeting those who sexually abuse and offend against children online and teams across the force work with partners to educate children, parents and carers about online predators, to safeguard children from potential harm.

“We’re really keen to drum home the message that parents and carers need to know what their children are doing online in order to protect them from predators like Harmes.

"We all know that we need to teach children not to speak to strangers in the street, but we need to drive home that very same message for the online world too, to prevent people like Harmes from taking advantage.”

Tougher online safety regulations needed

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Harmes’ use of deception to target and abuse children, just months after he was released from prison for similar crimes, shows not only a sickening determination but also how online platforms can be easily exploited by offenders.

“The NSPCC will continue to work with the Government to introduce robust online safety legislation that ensures tech platforms are designed with the safety of children in mind. We want the Online Safety Bill to hold firms accountable if young people fail, so future generations are better protected from offenders like Harmes.”

*Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or through the Childline website, where there are resources and advice on how to stay safe online. Adults with concerns about a child can phone the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 8005000, email help@nspcc.org.uk or visit the NSPCC website."

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