Yahoo News Schoolgirl, 12, may face charges for sending topless picture of herself to paedophile
A 12-year-old schoolgirl who sent a topless picture of herself to an online paedophile may face criminal charges.
Despite being pressured into sending the explicit snap on her iPad, she has been told that SHE faces a police investigation for sending an indecent image.
The girl, who has not been identified, was groomed on Instagram before being bombarded with requests for pictures.
However, she refused to send any more after the topless shot after her groomer demanded more explicit shots.
And while the paedophile remains free, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection unit (CEOP) apparently warned the girl is now facing potential charges.
Her shocked mum told The Mirror: “She’s the victim. She was coerced into sending it. There’s a paedophile out there yet they’re talking about criminalising a little girl.
“She’s scared, upset, worrying about what is going to happen and I’m questioning if I did the right thing in reporting it.
MOST POPULAR STORIES FROM YAHOO UK:
North Korea ‘will be destroyed if reckless behaviour continues’, says US ambassador
Police admit they may have to work with vigilante paedophile hunters
Parents of boy, six, say he’s not allowed into after-school clubs – because they’re not on benefits
The entire Internet is mocking ISIS for ‘claiming’ the Parsons Green terror attack
Taxi driver ‘locked teenage girls in cab and drove them to police station’ because they were 60p short
“My child is a victim of grooming but now she might be branded a criminal. If this is happening it could put other parents off reporting abuse. How many people actually knew this was the law?”
She added: “I couldn’t believe it. How can the victim end up with a criminal record? She’s a young, innocent girl who has made a big, big mistake.
“But calling her a criminal? How is that in the public interest?”
A spokesman for the National Crime Agency confirmed that the girl could be charged, saying: “The NCA always puts victim care and safeguarding of children and young persons first and foremost.
“In this instance we understand the child sent an image of herself to another person. If a young person is found creating or sharing images, the police must record a crime, in line with Home Office Counting Rules, and investigate.
“They have discretion not to take formal action if it isn’t in the public interest to do so.
“Police are encouraged to take a common sense approach that does not criminalise children unnecessarily.”
Billy Howarth, from Parents Against Grooming, told The Mirror: “The focus should be on catching the paedophile, not scaring a 12-year-old kid. I hope common sense prevails.”
