In 2015, the Offender Database reported that Luke Heasmer, then 35, of Glenburn Close, Bexhill, East Sussex, was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. On Tuesday, 31 March 2015, Heasmer appeared at Hove Crown Court for “vicious” attempts to exploit two young girls through social media.
The investigation established that Heasmer used Facebook to target two girls, one as young as 13. He engaged in “vile” sexually explicit exchanges and attempted to incite the victims into prostitution by asking them to meet other men for payment. Sussex Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit uncovered the “abhorrent” scheme, which included the theft of an SD memory card used to store prohibited material.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Detective Constable Danny Swietlik emphasised that the intervention was “critical” in ensuring Heasmer was no longer in a position to contact vulnerable children. The court reported that Heasmer pleaded guilty to inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and two counts of inciting prostitution and pornography. The judge emphasised that while the girls fortunately declined his “vicious” offers, the “serious” nature of the grooming required a custodial sentence.
The prosecution emphasised that Heasmer’s “persistent” use of digital platforms to facilitate the sexual exploitation of minors was a “vile” betrayal of community safety. The judge noted that the guilty pleas were “welcome” as they prevented the survivors from having to relive the “horrific” details in court. For his crimes in Bexhill, the court determined that Heasmer poses a lifelong danger to children and requires “stringent” oversight.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in East Sussex, Luke Heasmer was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Two and a half years in immediate custody.
- SOPO: A lifetime Sexual Offences Prevention Order was imposed.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Convictions: Admitted ito nciting a child to engage in sexual activity and inciting prostitution.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Heasmer is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Sussex Police. His history of “vicious” online grooming and attempts to facilitate “abhorrent” prostitution mean his status remains under “critical” scrutiny by authorities in Bexhill.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Heasmer must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Bexhill, East Sussex. Authorities state that his lifetime SOPO, which restricts his access to children and computers, is a “critical” tool for public safety. Any breach of his registration conditions, his SOPO, or his licence terms will result in his immediate return to Hove Crown Court.
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