In 2022, a child sex offender, Michael Hewitt, posed as a soldier serving in Afghanistan to groom an underage girl online – before faking his death to trick her into a relationship.
Michael Hewitt, then 19, set up a bogus social media account in March 2020 after failing to start a relationship with the 15-year-old, and contacted her as his alter ego to ask for sex.
Though she did not respond at first, the two eventually began to speak, and Hewitt tricked her into starting an online relationship with his alias, who claimed to be a soldier serving in Afghanistan.
After messaging for several weeks and after constant requests, the victim sent him intimate photos and videos.
But over time, Hewitt began to mention himself in messages the fictional soldier sent to his victim.
On 12 May, Hewitt sent an email to the victim from another fake account, claiming to be the soldier’s father, breaking the news that the serviceman had died in Afghanistan and that his dying wish was for the victim to start a relationship with Hewitt.
The girl’s mother became concerned about her daughter’s relationship with the supposed soldier, after not seeing any British military deaths reported in the news, and contacted the police.
Hewitt was later arrested, his electronic devices seized, and the IP address at his home linked to messages supposedly sent by the fake soldier and the soldier’s father.
Hewitt, of Swaffham Prior, Cambridge, denied two counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, but was found guilty by a jury at Cambridge Crown Court.
He was jailed for 18 months at Peterborough Crown Court, placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.
RELEASED – 2023
For the latest updates and offender details, follow us on the Offender Register Facebook Page. If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on how to report a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.