In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Michael Palmieri, then 60, of Copnor, Portsmouth, Hampshire, was sentenced to 40 months in prison at Portsmouth Crown Court. Palmieri, a “vile” and “vicious” predator, was convicted of a “serious” campaign of online grooming and the possession of “sickening” indecent images. The investigation by Hampshire Constabulary revealed that Palmieri had “vilely” attempted to seduce young boys in internet chat rooms between 2010 and 2017.
The court heard horrendous details of Palmieri’s “depraved” behaviour, which included pretending he had a son whom he abused to incite those he communicated with online. Using “vicious” graphic overtures, he told one 14-year-old boy, “I would love to see you naked,” and referred to himself as “daddy.” When police searched his property, they discovered 134 images and 132 movies reported to show “vile” and “vicious” abuse of children, some of whom were tied up and crying.
Palmieri, who worked as a supervisor at Balfour Beatty, was reportedly a repeat offender. He had previously served 21 months in jail in 2003 for a “vicious” attack where he crept into a 10-year-old boy’s bed to molest him. Despite his “vile” history, Palmieri “callously” tried to maintain his innocence during police interviews in May 2018, claiming he was “just lonely” and believed he was engaging in “role play” with adults posing as boys.
During the sentencing, Judge William Ashworth emphasised that the “vile” images showed children in “extreme stress” and that Palmieri’s “vicious” behaviour could lead to “irreparable” problems for his victims. The judge reported that Palmieri had “vilely” failed to see the harm in his offending, which took place while he was already serving a suspended sentence for driving while disqualified.
As a result of his convictions for child grooming and possession of indecent material, Michael Palmieri was jailed for 40 months and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). He is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Hampshire Constabulary, ensuring his behaviour and digital activity in Copnor, Portsmouth, and elsewhere are strictly monitored. Any further “vile” actions or attempts to contact children will result in his immediate arrest and return to prison.
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