UK child groomer sentenced
‘Web predator’ jailed for sex with 14-year-old girls:
Not too long ago I posted about UK sex offender Andrew Beatson from Edinburgh, Scotland. The 26-year-old Beatson had sex with a 14-year-old he met over Bebo.
But while on bail waiting to appear at court, jobless Beatson used the site to initiate a sexual relationship with another 14-year-old just four months later.
At the time I likened him to the UK version of Scott Shefelbine. Shefelbine is the alleged US predator who was arrested near a dozen times for practically the same offense.
Well the law decided that would not be the case as they sentenced Beatson to nine months behind bars.
Beatson tried the “they said they were 16 defense” but the law didn’t buy it.
But Sheriff Noel McPartlin rejected Beatson’s claims that he had been naïve and branded him a “predator”.
He said: “The fact is that both girls were not much older than 14 when these offences took place. You initiated contact throught the internet, so it is very difficult to come to any other conclusion that your conduct is predatory by its very nature.”
Beatson was already a registered sex offender in the UK.
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Tags: Andrew-Beatson, Bebo, edinburgh, sex-offenderRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Predators
15 opinions for UK child groomer sentenced
Ice
Oct 17, 2007 at 10:27 am
At least they actually did something to stop this guy. Obviously the UK isn’t that big on getting predators off of social sites like that. But in the end, it is all about parental supervision. The parents should know what their kids are doing online, and who they are chatting to. When my son is older i am not sure if i want him online altogether
jade
Oct 17, 2007 at 12:24 pm
so even over there, the “she said she was 16″ defense doesn’t work, huh?
sara
Oct 17, 2007 at 12:46 pm
i dont know why they give them the chance for bail. the minute they get caught, they need to be locked up and not let out.
Sara
Oct 17, 2007 at 1:43 pm
I’m so glad they caught this sicko! And I have to agree with the comment above in that when my son is old enough, I’m not sure I want him online at all. There’s just too much bad stuff to get into.
mrg
Oct 17, 2007 at 2:09 pm
There’s a lot of good things online too, but parents need make sure to know where their children go. I’m glad they caught this guy. And I love the judge’s comments!
Lindley
Oct 17, 2007 at 10:59 pm
You go, Judge! I bet Judge Judy would have ripped him a new one too. I guess people still have not learned from Dateline TCAP!
Wendy
Oct 18, 2007 at 12:55 am
Nine months? I don’t know, it just doesn’t seem like much to me.
But I also agree that parents need to be very aware of what their children are doing online and who they’re talking to.
LindaSerena
Oct 18, 2007 at 2:31 am
I live 5,000 miles away from my children, but I do watch their myspace spots. I’ve also learned that they hit it when they’re at other places, not just at home. Yes, we’d like to be able to watch everything they do, but we can’t. The best thing to do is raise them with the sense of caution and trust them.
These predators are all over the world. As adults let’s track them down and send them where they belong.
Caryn
Oct 18, 2007 at 8:05 am
I’m glad that he was caught! I used to live in Edinburgh and while they have crime, it isn’t to the extent that it is here in the states. I talked to a lot of the girls I worked with about this subject. They can be very strict over there.
Ashley
Oct 18, 2007 at 10:20 am
You know they should just start a prison for just sex offenders and sex offenders only and then 1 by 1 take them into a little room and cut their jiblets off. Then maybe they will think twice before they have sex with ANYBODY.
lace
Oct 18, 2007 at 11:25 pm
He sounds like a predator to me. I agree with Ashley.
Ice
Oct 19, 2007 at 12:01 am
I think Ashley’s idea is Brilliant
Jennifer
Oct 19, 2007 at 10:26 am
Predator for sure. They need to come up with a way to keep all of these losers who are online predators offline. Like once you are convicted you are tracked somehow, it would be difficult, but there has to be a way
Julene
Oct 20, 2007 at 1:37 pm
These days, does anyone accept the “they said they were 16″ defense? I suppose when you’re a grown man who’s into underage girls grabbing at any straw you can sounds like a better option than owning up to your behavior. The problem is that 9 months in jail isn’t going to make him quit being on the lookout for children to prey on–if anything it will only make him more determined not to get caught next time around. :/ Any news on probation/parole requirements for when he gets out?
Blogtoberfest winners
Oct 20, 2007 at 9:46 pm
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