Paedophile jailed for sex offences against teenage girls across the UK

A man from Rochdale has been jailed for a series of sex offences against teenage girls across the United Kingdom.

In September 2018, police were called to a report of concern for the welfare of a 14-year-old girl in a hotel room in Wales.

Officers attended and found the 14-year-old in a private room with Jordan Scarrott, 22, of Rochdale.

At the time, Scarrott told officers that he was 15-years-old.

Further enquiries established that Scarrott was 20-years-old and an investigation was launched.

The investigation found that, over a period of six months, Scarrott contacted a number of teenage girls from Wales, Greater Manchester and Northamptonshire using a social media app. In some cases, Scarrott arranged to meet the girls and, during these meetings, engaged in sexual activity.

Scarrott was arrested and taken into police custody for questioning.

Scarrott was subsequently charged with four counts of sexual communication with a child, four counts of sexual grooming of a child, four counts of sexual activity with a child between the age of 13 and 15, two counts of attempting to meet a child under the age of 16 following grooming and one count of inciting a child aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/127191/rochdale-man-charged-with-child-sex-offences

Scarrott pleaded guilty and, on Friday 28 February 2020, he was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court to eight years and four months' imprisonment.

Detective Chief Inspector Philip Key, of GMP Rochdale’s Sunrise team, said: “Scarrott is a paedophile. Despite being aware that his victims were underage, he contacted them with a view to grooming them to meet and engage in sexual activity with him.

“I am thankful to the victims for co-operating with the police investigation and assisting with officers’ enquiries – without them, we wouldn’t be here today.

“I hope Scarrott’s sentence acts as a warning to offenders that Greater Manchester Police will not tolerate grooming and that specialist officers conduct thorough investigations which bring perpetrators of child sexual abuse to face the justice system.”

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Scarrott’s use of social media to groom and abuse teenage girls around the country shows just how dangerous these platforms can be for young people.

“The recent appointment of Ofcom as online harms regulator represents a great step towards a safer internet, but until it is given the power and resources to hold social media companies fully to account, predators like Scarrott could see them as ‘one-stop shops’ to target children around the UK.”

Children can contact Childline 24/7 on 0800 1111. Adults concerned about the wellbeing of a child can phone the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 8005000.

Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims.

If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

- Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk

- St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them via Greater Manchester Police, or as a self-referral.

- Survivors Manchester provides specialist trauma informed support to boys and men in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.