A PAEDOPHILE from Eastville who targeted young boys through online games and social media has been jailed for five years.
Kieran Francis, of Fishponds Road, was described by the parents of his victims as a “monster” who had stolen their childhoods.
Francis, aged 22, used gaming platforms Fortnite and Roblox, as well as social media apps TikTok and Snapchat, and messenger service Whatsapp to contact up to 99 children aged between eight and 11 over a six-month-period this year.
Once in touch via private messages, he then groomed them to send him sexual pictures and videos, which he not only used for his own gratification but distributed to other paedophiles.
Bristol Crown Court heard Francis first came to police attention in February, and was arrested two months later.
Police officers seized his devices and questioned him, and released him with bail conditions not to speak to any children, while enquiries were ongoing – but he continued to contact children until he was arrested again in August and charged.
Investigators found more than 1,000 indecent images of children on his devices.
Concerned parents had contacted police from four other forces across the country – West Mercia, Greater Manchester, Wiltshire and Hampshire – to alert them to his activities.
At a magistrates court hearing in September, Francis pleaded guilty to 11 sexual offences against four children, dating from January to June.
The charges included causing a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch sexual activity, possessing and distributing indecent images of children and attempting to meet up with a 10-year-old boy following online grooming.
As well as the five-year prison sentence, Francis will be added to the Sex Offenders Register for life and made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He is banned from contacting victims and working with children and must notify the police of his address after release.
‘My son’s childhood has been stolen’
The mother of one of his victims wrote a statement read out at October’s Crown court hearing, which said: “My son’s childhood has been stolen, his trust shattered and his safety ripped away.
“He was groomed online by the defendant – a predator who deliberately targeted an innocent child.
“This was not an accident. It was calculated. It was cruel.
“My son was a happy, carefree boy who trusted people. That boy is gone.
“This is not short-term harm. These are deep wounds which will shape his entire life.
“He has lost his carefree childhood. That loss cannot be undone.”
Another victim’s mother said: “While my children were growing up, I always told them not to be afraid of the dark and that monsters weren’t hiding in the shadows at night.
“I now realise I was right – monsters don’t hide in the shadows at night – but I was wrong in saying they didn’t exist. They are, and he’s before us now.
“He has cast a shadow on my, my family’s and so many other children’s and families’ lives.
“They will always remember this. While what he did won’t ever define them, he has darkened their lives and he has no right.”
‘Repulsive crimes’
Detective Constable Natalie Norman said: “Francis befriended his victims, requested images and videos from them for his own sexual gratification. He then went as far as to distribute these images to other individuals seeking the same disgusting and heinous gratification from such images.
“Francis committed repulsive crimes and took advantage of children who were just wanting to enjoy their free time playing video games.
“He took advantage of them and knew this, given his immediate guilty plea.
“I would like to commend the victims for their bravery and resilience during this investigation. I do not doubt this has been an incredibly traumatic time for them and their families, and their support of our enquiries should be commended.
“All of the victims and their families have been safeguarded and provided with support from their home forces and I would like to thank them for their support.
“They have shown true courage and strength throughout and we would not have the result we have today, and saved possibly other children from a similar fate, without them.”