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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Internet groomer handed jail term | Internet groomer handed jail term |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| An internet paedophile who took control of schoolgirls' computers and blackmailed them into sending explicit images has been jailed for 10 years. | An internet paedophile who took control of schoolgirls' computers and blackmailed them into sending explicit images has been jailed for 10 years. |
| Adrian Ringland, 36, of Lord Haddon Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday. | Adrian Ringland, 36, of Lord Haddon Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday. |
| He admitted two charges of indecency with a child, four of hacking, four of blackmail and 10 offences of making indecent photographs of a child. | He admitted two charges of indecency with a child, four of hacking, four of blackmail and 10 offences of making indecent photographs of a child. |
| The offences involved two girls in Britain and one in Canada. | The offences involved two girls in Britain and one in Canada. |
| One of the girls said Ringland's level of skill and the power he had over her PC reminded her of the science fiction film Matrix. | One of the girls said Ringland's level of skill and the power he had over her PC reminded her of the science fiction film Matrix. |
| Another victim described her ordeal as "internet rape" and spoke of committing suicide, while a third told police she felt as if she was being "stalked", and was so "terrified" that it almost seemed as if the man was in her house. | Another victim described her ordeal as "internet rape" and spoke of committing suicide, while a third told police she felt as if she was being "stalked", and was so "terrified" that it almost seemed as if the man was in her house. |
| Ringland also admitted six charges of unlawful intercourse and one of internet grooming. | Ringland also admitted six charges of unlawful intercourse and one of internet grooming. |
| It is a startling tale that will bring home to you the horrors that lurk within the internet Lisa Wilding, prosecuting | It is a startling tale that will bring home to you the horrors that lurk within the internet Lisa Wilding, prosecuting |
| Thirteen similar charges involving a number of 15-year-old girls were ordered to remain on file. | Thirteen similar charges involving a number of 15-year-old girls were ordered to remain on file. |
| Lisa Wilding, prosecuting, told the court: "This is a case about manipulation, exploitation and sexual gratification. | Lisa Wilding, prosecuting, told the court: "This is a case about manipulation, exploitation and sexual gratification. |
| "It is a startling tale that will bring home to you the horrors that lurk within the internet and the minds of some individuals who use it." | "It is a startling tale that will bring home to you the horrors that lurk within the internet and the minds of some individuals who use it." |
| She said the offences had graphically demonstrated how on-line chat rooms could become "the tool of a paedophile". | She said the offences had graphically demonstrated how on-line chat rooms could become "the tool of a paedophile". |
| Opening drawers | Opening drawers |
| The court heard Ringland posed as a teenager in a chat room to gain the girls' trust. | The court heard Ringland posed as a teenager in a chat room to gain the girls' trust. |
| Once he had their e-mails, he used sophisticated software to hack into their systems, moving cursors and in one case opening and closing the CD Rom drawer. | |
| The father-of-two then blackmailed them into sending revealing photographs of themselves. | The father-of-two then blackmailed them into sending revealing photographs of themselves. |
| This is a case about manipulation, exploitation and sexual gratification Lisa Wilding, prosecuting | This is a case about manipulation, exploitation and sexual gratification Lisa Wilding, prosecuting |
| The court was told that once Ringland felt he had the youngsters under his control he forced them to send more explicit images. | The court was told that once Ringland felt he had the youngsters under his control he forced them to send more explicit images. |
| He warned that if they refused, he would send the pictures he already had to their friends, or wipe valuable information from their computers. | He warned that if they refused, he would send the pictures he already had to their friends, or wipe valuable information from their computers. |
| A 14-year-old victim in Manitoba, Canada, ignored the threats and told her parents, who alerted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. | A 14-year-old victim in Manitoba, Canada, ignored the threats and told her parents, who alerted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. |
| An extensive investigation then traced him back to his home 4,000 miles away. | An extensive investigation then traced him back to his home 4,000 miles away. |
| Unemployed Ringland was arrested by local police and bailed. | Unemployed Ringland was arrested by local police and bailed. |
| During a random police check Ringland was caught having sex with a 14-year-old girl he had groomed on the internet. | During a random police check Ringland was caught having sex with a 14-year-old girl he had groomed on the internet. |