Jack Kelly

Jack Kelly, a 30-year-old man from Bolton, was sentenced to seven years in prison at Southend Crown Court on Friday, December 5, for grooming and sexually abusing a south Essex schoolgirl he met while on holiday in Turkey. At the time of the offences, Kelly was a 19-year-old university student who exchanged contact details with the underage girl, leading to an online friendship that quickly turned sexual.

The court heard that Kelly and the victim shared images with one another before he travelled from Bolton to Brentwood to visit her. During this visit, when Kelly was 21 and the girl was under 16, they shared a bed and engaged in sexual activity. The abusive relationship continued as Kelly took the girl to a London hotel, where they had further sexual encounters, before returning to Brentwood. He visited her once more a couple of months later for additional sexual activity, after which he ended the relationship, citing fear of his father's reaction.

Judge Samantha Cohen described the mother's role in the situation, noting, 'Her mother was somebody who suffered with addiction and who plainly allowed a completely unacceptable situation to take place under her roof, failing to protect her daughter, I’m afraid.' Over time, the victim realised the abuse through therapy and later confronted Kelly when she was 18, becoming disturbed upon seeing a photo he had kept of her as a schoolgirl. Following a police report, Kelly denied the allegations and maintained his innocence at trial.

The impact on the victim was profound, with Judge Cohen stating she 'has night terrors and takes medication for anxiety,' and that being called a liar during the proceedings had worsened her condition. Kelly's defence lawyer mentioned that in prison, he had embraced Buddhism and begun to accept his past, though he still claimed sexual activity occurred only once or twice, a claim the judge dismissed as 'ridiculous.' She told him, 'Your relationship with her was abusive and manipulative.' In addition to the seven-year sentence, Kelly must sign the sex offenders register for life, is barred from working with children, and is subject to a lifelong restraining order protecting the victim.

The case was reported by Essex Police and covered exclusively by Charles Thomson, Crime & Investigations Reporter for the Echo News, highlighting the grooming and abuse that took place in Brentwood and surrounding areas in Essex.