Shaun Fox

A predatory paedophile from Peterborough has been sentenced to over nine years in prison for grooming and abusing a 14-year-old girl online using a fake Instagram account. Shaun Fox, aged 43, posed as a 17-year-old boy to ensnare the victim, sending her indecent images and explicit videos while inciting her to engage in sexual activity.

The case came to light in June when the girl's parents intercepted Fox's messages, which included child abuse material. According to court proceedings at Cambridge Crown Court, Fox admitted to 11 offences, including causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and distributing an indecent image of a child. Prosecutor Irsa Iqbal detailed how Fox's offending was uncovered after the victim's parents became aware of the inappropriate communications.

Judge Philip Grey described Fox as 'every parent's worst nightmare' and highlighted his deliberate plan to 'corrupt and sexually abuse her online'. The judge noted that Fox had left a 'trail of devastation just so you could get your kicks', emphasising the profound impact on the victim and her family. The victim's mother stated in court, 'this man has taken away her innocence' and 'brought sexual violence and abuse into her life'. Judge Grey reassured that the girl and her parents 'bear no blame whatsoever for what happened'.

Police linked Fox to the fake account through a top-up mobile phone, leading to his arrest. This offence follows Fox's previous convictions for 15 child sexual abuse offences; he had been released from prison in May 2023. In mitigation, defence barrister Sophie Clifford argued that Fox was 'deeply remorseful' and felt 'like he is a teenager in the wrong body', adding that he acknowledged spiralling into reoffending without supervision. However, Judge Grey dismissed this, stating 'your regret, in my judgement, was you were caught'.

The sentencing reflects the severity of Fox's predatory behaviour, with Cambridgeshire Police involved in the investigation. The court imposed a custodial sentence of nine and a half years, extended by five years on licence to protect the public.