Young man jailed for sexual encounter with girl, 13, in Coventry

[dutchman]

A young man who drove 120 miles from his home in south London for a sexual encounter with a 13-year-old Coventry girl has been jailed and ordered to register as a sex offender



Jake Oatham had originally denied two charges of sexual activity with a child – and earlier this year a jury at Warwick Crown Court was unable to reach verdicts.

But before he was due to stand trial for a second time, he pleaded guilty to an amended indictment of three charges of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one of meeting a child following grooming, and one of sexual activity with a child.

Oatham (22) of Seymour Avenue, Morden, south London, was jailed for three-and-a-half years and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Jailing Oatham, Judge Anthony Potter told him: “It is clear you were aware she was under 16.

“I am quite satisfied her insecurities would have been perfectly obvious to you. You, notwithstanding your own issues, deliberately exploited her.

“Within the first 15 minutes of the first proper text conversation you were suggesting coming to meet her, despite the fact you live in Surrey, about a two-hour drive from Coventry.

“You made it perfectly plain you wanted to engage in sexual activity with her in a number of graphic texts.

“You were committed to driving up to Coventry to meet a 13-year-old girl, who I accept you believed was 14, and you were intent on engaging in sexual activity. You wanted anything and everything she would allow you to get away with.”