Abuser who contacted girls via social media jailed

A man has been jailed after his abuse of several teenage girls came to light.

Kieran Ridgway, 29, contacted his victims through social media and offered them alcohol if they engaged in sexual acts with him, police said.

Officers were alerted when the parents of two girls came forward in July 2021, and subsequent inquiries led to the identification of three more victims.

At Leicester Crown Court, Ridgway, of Curlew Close in Coalville, was found guilty of multiple sexual offences against girls under 16 and, on Friday, was sentenced to nine years in jail.

After being alerted, police established the first two girls had met a man in a car park and, while no physical contact was made, they informed their parents.

Ridgway was arrested in October 2021.

Police discovered he sent messages to girls on social media under cover of an alias.

If he received a response he would continue the conversation, before offering to meet.

Investigations found three other girls, who were all under 16 when the offences occurred, were contacted by Ridgway.

Between June 2017 and February 2020, he carried out sexual activity with all three of these victims, police said, with one of the victims believing she was in a relationship with him.

In interviews, Ridgway claimed an unknown third person had set up a fake social media profile using his details.

He also denied asking the children to engage in sexual acts with him, stating he bought the alcohol for them out of kindness.

After a trial in May, Ridgway was found guilty of five counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, non-penetrative sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following grooming, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

He will be subject to a three-year extended licence period following his release, was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Det Con Stacey Swan, who led the investigation, said: "The victims in this case have shown immense bravery in coming forward and discussing these awful experiences.

"I hope that they take some comfort that Kieran Ridgway has now been brought to justice for his crimes."

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