Man who groomed 12-year-old child jailed for eight years

A man who planned to rape a 12-year-old child he had been grooming for months has been jailed.

Casey Delaney, 30, of Denmark Close, Luton, was sentenced to eight years in prison at Swindon Crown Court on Friday (21/02).

The Judge imposed a 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prevents Delaney from having any contact with the victim. Further, he will be on the Sex Offender's Register for life.

Delaney groomed a 12-year-old girl he met through the social media platform Snapchat from July 2023 through to when he was arrested on February 3, 2024.

On this date, he had booked a room at Premier Inn in Swindon to stay the night with the child. Messages retrieved from the victim's phone revealed his intention was to have sex with her.

A call was made to Wiltshire Police from a concerned friend of the victim who saw Delaney walk into the hotel with his arm around the girl.

He was arrested and remanded in custody - where he remained until he was sentenced.

In a statement read to the court, the victim's mother said: "During the summer of 2023 both myself and my partner noticed a significant change in [our daughter].

"We were not aware of why this was happening at the time but now know this was due to her being groomed online by this man.

"The changes we saw in [our daughter's] behaviour were upsetting and painful."

The court heard how Delaney's criminality had a devastating impact on the victim's mental health.

The family's statement continued: "As her parents, to endure our daughter feeling suicidal and making attempts on her life was one of the hardest things we have faced.

"We were beside ourselves that our 12-year-old daughter felt she couldn't come to us and felt she had no other way but to end her life left us helpless as a family.

"He has taken the innocence away from our little girl. She will never get that back."

Detective Constable Geoff Newnham, of Wiltshire Police's Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: "Delaney meticulously groomed his victim from the summer of 2023 up until he was caught on February 3, 2024.

"During this time, he manipulated a child into sending indecent images of herself before travelling to Swindon with the intention of raping her in a hotel.

"While the fact Delaney will spend years behind bars may offer some comfort to the victim and her family, his actions have undoubtedly caused an enormous amount of trauma.

"I would like to offer my thanks to the victim and commend her bravery throughout the entire process."

Our Child Abuse Investigation Team works with other agencies such as children's social care and health, to minimise the risk to children who may be vulnerable to harm.

We will take every opportunity to protect and keep safe children who are at risk.

If you suspect a person of carrying out child sexual exploitation, or think someone you know has been a victim, or may be soon, visit our How to report possible child abuse page or call our non-emergency number, 101. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101.

If someone is in immediate danger of harm, please call 999 now.