Sex predator jailed for grooming child

Sex predator jailed for grooming child

25 November 2015

A KILLYLEAGH man will spend one year in prison for sexually grooming a child.

Forty six year-old David John Strutt, of Ardigon Road, has also been ordered to spend two years on probation after his release from prison and he will also have to complete a sexual offenders’ treatment programme.

The sentence was passed at Downpatrick Crown Court on Thursday by Judge Piers Grant who heard that Strutt had groomed the teenage boy between September 2012 and July 2013 during which time he also incited the child to engage in a sexual act.

Strutt regularly gave money and cigarettes to the child, which was considered part of the grooming process. The defendant also sent “extremely sexualised” text messages to him.

The inappropriate nature of the relationship only came to light when the injured party confided in his mother.

The court heard that the teenager was also engaging in sexual activity with other male adults at the time, which made it difficult for doctors to assess how much damage had been specifically caused by the defendant.

The court heard that while Strutt had admitted to homosexual tendencies, he insisted he was not attracted to children. He is considered, according to probation officers, to be of medium risk of offending.

“It is quite clear these are serious sexual offences which must attract a custodial sentence,” said Judge Grant.

Judge Grant said half of any custodial sentence is normally spent on licence but said in this case he wanted Strutt to spend just one third of his sentence behind bars so he could complete a full two-year programme for sexual offenders on his release.