A Luton Paedophile, Casey Delaney, who intended to sexually assault a 12-year-old child he had been grooming for several months has been incarcerated.
Casey Delaney, 30, of Denmark Close, Luton, received an eight-year prison sentence at Swindon Crown Court on Friday, February 21.
Casey Delaney exploited a 12-year-old girl he encountered on Snapchat from July 2023 until his arrest in February 2024.
He reserved a hotel at Premier Inn in Swindon for the night of February 3, 2024, with messages obtained from the victim’s phone indicating his intention to engage in sexual activity with her.
A concerned friend of the victim contacted Wiltshire Police after observing Delaney enter the hotel with his arm around the female.
Casey Delaney was apprehended and detained in custody until his sentencing.
In a statement read to the court, the victim’s mother said: “During the summer of 2023 both myself and my partner noticed a significant change in [our daughter].
“We were not aware of why this was happening at the time but now we know this was due to her being groomed online by this man.
“The changes we saw in [our daughter’s] behaviour were upsetting and painful.”
The court also heard how Delaney’s criminality had impacted the victim’s mental health.
The family’s statement continued: “As her parents, to endure our daughter feeling suicidal and making attempts on her life was one of the hardest things we have faced.
“We were beside ourselves that our 12-year-old daughter felt she couldn’t come to us and felt she had no other way but to end her life leaving us helpless as a family.
“He has taken the innocence away from our little girl. She will never get that back.
Detective Constable Geoff Newnham, of Wiltshire Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “Casey Delaney meticulously groomed his victim from the summer of 2023 up until he was caught on February 3, 2024.
“During this time, he manipulated a child into sending indecent images of herself before travelling to Swindon with the intention of raping her in a hotel.
“While the fact Casey Delaney will spend years behind bars may offer some comfort to the victim and her family, his actions have undoubtedly caused an enormous amount of trauma.
“I would like to offer my thanks to the victim and commend her bravery throughout the entire process.”
As well as being sentencing him to eight years in prison, the Judge also imposed a 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prevents Casey Delaney from having any contact with the victim.
He will also be on the Sex Offender’s Register for life.
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