A paedophile who groomed four young girls online and coerced them into sending sexual images has been jailed for 15 years.
David Hulse, 38, was caught after throwing his mobile phones out of a window when police arrived with a warrant as part of an investigation into indecent images.
But officers recovered the devices and discovered a number of indecent images of children on them.
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Investigators from Greater Manchester Police found Hulse had used online messaging platforms to strike up friendships with four girls before exploiting their trust and vulnerability to obtain sexual images.
The predator initially denied the allegations and repeatedly answered “no comment” during police interviews before later admitting a string of offences at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
He has now been sentenced to 15 years behind bars, with an extended three years on licence, as reported by Need To Know
He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Before sentencing, the mother of one of the survivors spoke of the devastating impact on her daughter, who had struggled to understand why it had happened and had sometimes blamed herself.
She said: “What has been particularly difficult is that she has struggled to understand why this happened to her and has, at times, felt that she is somehow to blame.
“We have had to continually reassure her that she was not responsible for another person’s actions or for the choices they made.
“When guilty pleas were eventually entered, there was some relief that she would not have to go through the court process, but the uncertainty and stress leading up to that point had already taken its toll.
“We hope that, in time, she and our family will be able to move forward from what happened.
“However, the impact has been significant, and the emotional consequences of what happened will remain with us for a long time.”
The mother of another victim said Hulse had deliberately taken advantage of her daughter’s innocence.
She said: “When you have a daughter, your primary duty is to protect her childhood, her innocence, and her belief that the world is safe.
“David Hulse deliberately took advantage of her innocence for his own sexual gratification.
“While this legal process is concluding, the harm caused to her and the memories of this ordeal will stay with us for the rest of our lives.”
Hulse admitted two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, six counts of making indecent images of a child and four counts of distributing indecent images of a child.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images portraying an act of intercourse.
Detective Constable Daryl Gray, of GMP’s City of Manchester Criminal Investigation Department, said Hulse had used messaging platforms to gain the girls’ trust before coercing them into sharing sexual images.
He said: “No parent should have to go through what Hulse has subjected these survivors to, and I commend the entire families’ bravery throughout this investigation – the support they have given these young girls, but also the way they have maintained courage in the face of the evil that is David Hulse.
“I hope that this sentence gives the families an element of hope that Hulse is now behind bars, and they can start to put this chapter behind them.
“Hulse belongs in the past, and the families can now look towards a future together without this person in their lives.”
He urged anyone who had experienced sexual abuse to come forward, adding: “Our officers are here to support anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, no matter when it happened.
“Please come forward.
“We will listen.
“We will support you, and we will do all that we can to bring these offenders to justice.”
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