Zach Peploe

Zach Peploe, a 21-year-old from Highbridge in Somerset, has been sentenced to three years and ten months in prison for a series of sexual offences against five underage girls. The offences occurred when Peploe was aged 17, 18, and 19, involving grooming and exploitation via social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.

According to details presented at Taunton Crown Court, Peploe initiated contact with the vulnerable schoolgirls by pestering them online, complimenting their appearance, and professing love to manipulate them. He sent naked, sexualised videos of himself, including footage of him masturbating to a 12-year-old victim when he was 18. In one instance, he begged this girl for naked pictures on Instagram and bombarded her with sexually explicit messages, leaving her feeling sick and distressed.

• One 14-year-old victim fell asleep in Peploe's car after he groped her breasts; she was 14 and he was 17 at the time.
• A third victim, aged 14 when Peploe was 18, reported to her teacher that she felt pressured into having sex with him.
• After being released under police investigation, Peploe continued offending by targeting two more girls: one 14-year-old who consented to sex at his house but felt too frightened to refuse, and another aged 13 and 14 when he was 19, with whom he also had sex.

The victims suffered significant trauma, experiencing flashbacks, anxiety, difficulty trusting men, self-harm, and suicide attempts including an overdose. Police examination of Peploe's phone revealed he was contacting hundreds of girls monthly on Facebook in attempts to engage them.

Peploe pleaded guilty to nine offences, including engaging in sexual activity with a child and causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. Prosecutor Ms Nikki Coombe outlined the explicit nature of his communications. Defending barrister Mr Harry Ahuja described Peploe as a vulnerable young man with borderline personality disorder from an unstable background, noting he never lied about his age or forced the victims, and had made progress since arrest. However, a probation report highlighted his lack of remorse and immaturity.

Judge Paul Cook imposed the custodial sentence, along with restraining orders prohibiting contact with the victims and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order to manage his risk upon release. Peploe must also register as a sex offender indefinitely. The case was investigated by Avon and Somerset Police, as reported in Somerset Live on 8 April 2022.