In 2023, the Offender Database reported that Glen Haslett, then 30, of Pinehill Road, Bangor, County Down, was sentenced to two years. On Thursday, 20 April 2023, Haslett appeared at Downpatrick Crown Court for “viciously” grooming and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he met on Facebook.
The investigation established that the “abhorrent” offences occurred in 2013 across the North Down and Ards area. Haslett, who was 20 at the time, used a fake profile to pose as a schoolboy and send sexualised messages to the victim. The prosecution reported that after their first meeting, Haslett gave the girl £10, leaving her feeling “shocked and embarrassed.” On a subsequent occasion, he collected the victim while she was wearing her school uniform and took her to a car park for further “vile” abuse.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Judge Geoffrey Miller KC emphasised that Haslett was fully aware of the girl’s age and had “coerced” and “demeaned” her. The court reported that the victim, now in her 20s, contacted the PSNI in 2017 to report the historical abuse. When first arrested, Haslett “viciously” denied the claims, alleging a conspiracy against him, before finally confessing years later.
The prosecution emphasised that Haslett had “persistently” maintained his innocence, causing significant delays in the legal process. The judge emphasised that although the defence cited the length of time the case had been hanging over him, this was due to Haslett’s own refusal to admit the “serious” hurt he had caused. For his crimes in Bangor, the court determined that an immediate custodial sentence was the only way to reflect the gravity of the betrayal.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in County Down, Glen Haslett was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Two years (one year in prison and one year on licence).
- SOPO: A six-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order was imposed.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for an indefinite period.
- Convictions: Admitted to meeting a child following sexual grooming and three counts of sexual activity with a child.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Haslett is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the PSNI. His history of using “deceptive” online profiles to target children means his status remains under “stringent” scrutiny by authorities in Bangor.
As an indefinite member of the Sex Offenders Register, Haslett must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in County Down. Authorities state that his SOPO is a “critical” tool to monitor his internet usage and prevent further “vile” predatory behaviour. Any breach of his registration conditions, his SOPO, or his licence terms following his release from prison will result in his immediate return to Downpatrick Crown Court.
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