James Bridger, formerly of Gillingham, Kent, has received a suspended custodial sentence after exploiting his managerial position at a Gravesend pet shop to groom a 14-year-old schoolgirl who worked at the premises as a volunteer.
The court heard that the victim began assisting at the retail business after school hours, whereupon Bridger, who was 29 at the time, made contact by adding her on the social media platform Facebook. The online interaction swiftly moved beyond workplace matters as Bridger initiated a campaign of grooming, sending sexually explicit communications, inappropriate sexual remarks, and photographic images depicting himself naked.
The contact persisted over an approximate six-month period, which Bridger described as a relationship. During this time, despite having a fiancée and active arrangements to be married, Bridger formulated plans to arrange physical meetings with the child for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse. The victim refused his advances, preventing any physical contact from taking place.
Under UK legislation, all victims of sexual offences are protected by lifelong statutory anonymity.
Following criminal proceedings, the court imposed a 20-month prison sentence suspended for an operational period of 18 months. As part of the community requirements attached to the suspended sentence order, Bridger was directed to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days under the supervision of the Probation Service and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
In addition to the operational requirements of the order, Bridger was made subject to statutory notification requirements, obliging him to register with the police on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of 10 years.
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