Joss Hellem

Joss Hellem, a 23-year-old man from Newton Aycliffe, engaged in the grooming of a vulnerable teenage girl whom he contacted via Snapchat. Saving himself in her phone as 'Shaggy', Hellem built a deceptive relationship with the girl, who believed him to be her first boyfriend. He pressured her into performing sex acts and coerced her into sending naked photos, threatening to end the 'relationship' if she did not comply.

The grooming came to light when the girl's mother discovered the inappropriate messages and confronted her daughter. The mother, who cannot be named to protect her daughter's anonymity, immediately contacted the police. Durham Constabulary arrested Hellem promptly, and he admitted to the offences during questioning. The court heard details of Hellem's manipulative behaviour, including forcing the girl to meet him under the pretence of walks and exploiting her vulnerability.

At Durham Crown Court on Monday, September 16, 2024, Hellem pleaded guilty to eleven charges, including meeting a child following sexual grooming and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Judge Adams dismissed Hellem's defence that he had 'caved' to the girl's 'pressure' and 'flirting', emphasising, 'You were the adult; she was just a young child.' Hellem showed no emotion as he was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison. He will serve half of his 80-month sentence before being eligible for parole and is required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, alongside a 20-year sexual harm prevention order and a lifelong restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim or her mother.

The victim's mother expressed profound horror and anger, telling The Northern Echo, 'I hope he rots in there.' She highlighted the lasting impact on her daughter, who has rarely left the house since the offences were uncovered and feels deep shame. The mother urged other parents to monitor their children's phones, noting, 'As parents we have to check their phones, you can’t always be sure what you’re being told is 100 per cent the truth.' This case underscores the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting young people from exploitation.