Christopher Pound

A 35-year-old man from Kidderminster has been sentenced to six months in prison after admitting to grooming a 14-year-old girl online. Christopher Pound, who resides in Godson Place, was also required to register as a sex offender for seven years and was made subject to a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order at Worcester Crown Court.

The case came to light when Pound, described by the court as a lonely and isolated individual following a road accident that resulted in the amputation of part of his leg, struck up a friendship with the vulnerable teenager. The girl, who was pregnant and living with a foster family in Kidderminster, first met Pound during one of his visits to her new home. They exchanged email addresses and began communicating, which soon escalated into sexualised internet chats. According to David Iles, prosecuting, the friendship did not progress beyond these online interactions, but the foster mother grew suspicious due to the amount of time the girl was spending on the computer, prompting her to alert the authorities.

Pound pleaded guilty to sexual grooming of a child and to downloading four pornographic images from the internet. Upon discovery of the inappropriate communications, Pound fled to America for a few days before returning, where he was arrested. He initially denied any intention of sexual activity occurring. Judge John Cavell, presiding over the case, emphasised the severity of such offences, stating that 'adult men who approached 14-year-old girls with a view to sex must expect to go to prison.'

In mitigation, Peter Cooke, defending, highlighted Pound's tragic background, including a failed previous relationship and the isolation caused by his physical disability. Cooke noted that Pound felt flattered by the girl's attention, but this did little to sway the court from imposing a custodial sentence. The case was heard at Worcester Crown Court, with reporting from local sources including the Kidderminster Shuttle.