Samuel James Griffiths

A man from Shepshed has been jailed for child sex offences after admitting to a series of charges involving the sexual exploitation of a young girl. Samuel James Griffiths, aged 35, of Tyler Court, appeared at Leicester Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to seven counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15, and one count of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences began in 2014 when Griffiths first met his victim, who was just 12 years old. Over the following months, he started making personal comments to her, gradually escalating his behaviour. By the time the girl was 13, Griffiths had engaged in sexual activity with her on multiple occasions. He frequently instructed the victim not to disclose the abuse to anyone, warning that he would 'lose everything' if she did, which left her feeling guilty and isolated.

The abuse came to light in February 2017 when the victim confided in a relative, prompting a report to the police. Leicestershire Police launched a thorough investigation, working closely with social care colleagues as part of the multi-agency child sexual exploitation (CSE) team. This collaboration ensured support for the victim throughout the process, from the initial report to the court proceedings.

Griffiths was sentenced on 11 May 2018 to four years' imprisonment. In addition to the custodial sentence, he received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was placed on the sex offenders register for life. The court recognised the manipulative nature of his actions, as he was fully aware of the victim's age but proceeded for his own gratification.

Detective Constable Rebekah Cortez, the investigating officer, commented: 'Griffiths took advantage of this young victim and manipulated her for his own gratification. He was aware of her age but, despite this, continued to engage in sexual activity with her for his own benefit. The victim has shown tremendous strength and courage throughout the investigation.' She emphasised the police commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation, noting that reports are handled with sensitivity and specialist support.

This case, reported by the Loughborough Echo on 11 May 2018, highlights the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable children in Leicestershire and hold perpetrators accountable.