Noah Eckett-Graves

A 26-year-old man from Bournemouth, Noah Eckett-Graves, has been jailed for eight years following his admission to two charges of arranging or facilitating a child sexual offence. The case, investigated by Dorset Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), highlights the dangers of online grooming and the proactive measures taken by law enforcement to protect children.

The investigation began when Dorset Police received intelligence indicating that Eckett-Graves was involved in online conversations with an undercover operative posing as the mother of two young children. Over a series of exchanges, Eckett-Graves made explicit arrangements to travel by train from Bournemouth to Pontypridd in Wales on 22 August 2023, with the stated intention of meeting the children to engage in sexual activity. Evidence compiled by the POLIT team included detailed chat histories demonstrating his intentions.

On the day of the planned meeting, officers arrested Eckett-Graves as he boarded the train at Bournemouth station. Detective Constable Phillip Riggs, from the POLIT team, commented on the operation: “Through the evidence obtained by the undercover officer and our investigative work, we were able to identify Noah Eckett-Graves as someone who intended to commit sexual acts with children and we worked proactively to detain him and hold him accountable for his actions.” Riggs further emphasised the team's commitment: “We will continue to work with our partner agencies to thoroughly investigate offences of this nature and do all we can to bring offenders to justice.”

Eckett-Graves appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, 15 December 2023, where he pleaded guilty to the charges. The court sentenced him to an immediate custodial term of eight years, reflecting the severity of the offences aimed at exploiting vulnerable children. This case serves as a stark reminder of the hidden threats posed by online predators and the effectiveness of specialist police units in preventing such crimes.