A 33-year-old Scunthorpe Paedophile, John Hopper, has been incarcerated for engaging in sexual conduct with a minor female.
John Hopper, previously residing on Bolsover Road, Scunthorpe, confessed to three charges of engaging in sexual contact with a minor under the age of 16. Hopper also confessed to possessing lewd photographs of her on his phone.
Maya Hanson, prosecuting at Grimsby Crown Court, recounted that the girl’s relatives had reported her as missing. Upon being located and interrogated by law enforcement, she recounted her altercation with her mother and subsequent departure from home. A buddy proposed that John Hopper would offer her accommodation as sanctuary.
The prosecutor stated that after offering her his bed and sleeping on the sofa, John Hopper subsequently joined her in the bed. This constituted the initial of three sexual offences committed against the girl.
Two weeks later, she returned to his residence, where sexual activity occurred, despite his awareness of her being under 16. Her family notified the police of her disappearance. She was located in town and participated in an interview.
John Hopper was subsequently apprehended, and his mobile device was confiscated. Miss Hanson disclosed that he possessed inappropriate photos of the girl.
She gave a statement in court in person to highlight how scared she was to report the offences to police officers but how relieved she felt once she had done so. She told Judge Gurdial Singh: “I was vulnerable at the time and he took advantage of me. It has massively knocked my confidence.”
“This was a child coming to your house seeking refuge. You chose to sleep with a child. You slept deliberately and repeatedly with a child for your own sexual gratification,” he said.
He jailed John Hopper for six years and placed him on the Sex Offender Register for life. The judge said he will serve two thirds of his sentence in prison before being considered for release.
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