Jack Bowker, the Wirral Paedophile, avoided incarceration after transmitting Snapchat messages to an account he believed was associated with a minor.
A man, Jack Bowker, who communicated with a ’12-year-old girl’ over taking her virginity did not perceive himself as a paedophile.
On Wednesday, November 9, Liverpool Magistrates’ Court was informed that, from July to November 2021, Jack Bowker, 29, participated in sexual discussions via Snapchat with an account he believed to be that of a 12-year-old girl. The discussions commenced innocuously but evolved into sexual discourse.
Prosecuting, Callum Bryce said Jack Bowker sent messages about “spanking” the 12-year-old’s backside, lying in bed with her and getting an erection, having oral sex and taking her virginity. Bowker also sent selfies to the account but did not send any explicit images.
The account posing as the girl was actually run by the police. After receiving a warrant, officers searched Jack Bowker’s home on November 9, 2021 and seized electronic equipment, but they did not arrest him.
He attended a police interview in April 2022 and admitted to sending the messages. Jack Bowker, of Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, then pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
In mitigation, Colin Rawson pointed to his client’s lack of previous convictions, that he made a prompt guilty plea and had been fully cooperative with police. Mr Rawson said Jack Bowker “has difficulties engaging with other people” and he “rarely leaves his own address”, making contact with people primarily through social media.
Mr Rawson said Jack Bowker’s conversations with the account began nicely but “sexual contact crept into the conversation”. He said the age of the ‘girl’ was “mentioned on several occasions” and Jack Bowker “has to recognise he is an offender”.
Sentencing, District Judge Timothy Boswell told Jack Bowker, that though he was not actually conversing with a child: “You didn’t now that when you engaged in chats” and said his reason for sending the messages was “to obtain sexual gratification”.
The judge added: “You do not regard yourself as a paedophile”. He explained this can happen with some offenders of this nature, adding: “Some people struggle to accept the type of person their offending makes them”. Judge Boswell told Jack Bowker there was “work to be done to challenge your perception of yourself”.
Addressing Jack Bowker, he added: “You knew what you were doing”. and handed him a six month sentence, suspended for 18 months.
Jack Bowker was also given a seven year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, while he will also have to undergo a 30 day rehabilitation programme and perform 160 hours of unpaid work. The Sexual Harm Prevention Order requires Jack Bowker to notify police of any device with internet access, while he is not allowed to delete or alter his internet history.
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