Rotherham Man Jailed for 'Preying' on Girls Online
Tom Steven Wilkes, 22, has been jailed for ten years after admitting a total of five sexual offences against girls under 16.
A 22 year old Rotherham man's starting ten years behind bars for grooming young girls online.
Tom Steven Wilkes, formerly of Pitt Street, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court having already admitted a total of five offences including attempting to get a girl under 13 to commit sexual activity and sexual assault.
The court heard how Wilkes contacted three girls from the Rotherham area, two of whom were under 13-years-old, using social networking sites.
He bombarded them with messages asking them to meet and engage in sexual activity with him.
Wilkes also sent them explicit images.
It was only after one of his victims reported the abuse to an adult in January 2015 that an investigation started and a number of other victms were identified.
Detective Inspector John Fitzgibbons, who leads the team that investigated this case, said:
**
"Wilkes preyed on young teenage girls online, exploiting their vulnerability to try and get them to meet him and engage in sexual acts.
- *
"His behaviour is despicable and dangerous, and I am relieved he entered guilty pleas and spared his victims the further distress of a trial process.
- *
"The victims in this case should be commended for their bravery in coming forward to tell adults about this crime.
- *
"I hope that this case encourages other victims and survivors of sexual exploitation to come forward and report their abuse, with the confidence that they will be listened to and that police will investigate thoroughly."
- *
Wilkes' victims are receiving specialist support from the town's child sexual exploitation team, which includes representatives from Barnardos.
There is a dedicated 24-hour confidential helpline for victims of sexual exploitation in Rotherham, run by the national charity NSPCC. They can be contacted on 0800 7319256 or emailed at rotherhamcsesupport@nspcc.org.uk.