An 18-year-old Southampton Paedophile, James Thomas Hearn, has been incarcerated for many sexual offences against two females in Southampton.
James Thomas Hearn, residing on Bracken Lane, was sentenced to four years in a Young Offenders Institution at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday, 17 October.
James Thomas Hearn admitted guilt to two charges of sexual activity with a minor under 16, one charge of several incidents of sexual activity with a minor under 13, and one charge of multiple incidents of sexual assault of a minor under 13 during a hearing at the same court on Thursday, 12 September.
The court was informed that on November 10, 2022, police got a report indicating that James Thomas Hearn, then 16 years old, was engaging in sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old female.
The court was also told how Hearn targeted a second victim, a 13-year-old girl, on social media in December of last year. In the early hours of December 14 2023, the girl met James Thomas Hearn in person for the first time at Redbridge train station, where he sexually assaulted her.
A short time later, he sexually assaulted her a second time close to his home address. The girl told her mum what had happened to her, and together they reported it to police. A couple of months later, in March 2024, James Thomas Hearn had begun sending threatening messages to the victim.
James Thomas Hearn appeared at Southampton Crown Court for sentencing and was sentenced to four years in a Young Offenders Institution, given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.
Police Staff Investigator Rebecca Stevens and Detective Constable Gemma Boyle, of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Western Child Abuse Investigation Team, who led the investigations, said: “What happened to these girls at the hands of James Thomas Hearn is far beyond what most of us will ever be able to comprehend, and we thank them sincerely for coming forward and reporting what happened to the police.
“Their courage and bravery means that James Thomas Hearn will now spend time in prison for his abhorrent crimes, which these girls must live with for the rest of their lives. Nothing can ever take away what happened to them, but we do hope that this sentence goes some way to helping them move forward with their lives.
“We also hope that the news of this sentence helps others who have suffered similar abuse to find the confidence to come forward and speak to the police knowing their voices will be heard and that there is support available.”
Anyone who has any concerns about child abuse should contact us on 101, or call the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.
We recognise that not everyone has the confidence to speak to police, but there are support services available that can help you if you are a victim of abuse.
Anyone who has experienced abuse in childhood, or is concerned about a child, can contact the NSPCC helpline, confidentially, on 0808 800 5000. Alternatively, you can email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.
As a survivor of sexual abuse, you’re entitled to support, whether you report the crime or not. You can access different types of support depending on how you’re feeling and what you decide to do next.
Please follow the below link for more information: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/rape-sexual-assault-support/.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.