Serial sex offender accused of rape by Gaia Pope imprisoned for grooming underage girl

A serial sex offender who Gaia Pope accused of raping her has been imprisoned for grooming an underage girl.

Pope, a 19-year-old from Swanage, was reported missing from her home on 7 November last year and her body was discovered almost two weeks later in undergrowth on a nearby clifftop.

Three years ago, Connor Hayes, now 25, was the subject of a police investigation after Ms Pope, 19, alleged he had raped her.

Mr Hayes has now been jailed for 21 months for inciting a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity over the internet.

Police did not proceed with criminal charges against him after Ms Pope's allegations, but Mr Hayes was later jailed for two years for unrelated sex crimes.

It was while he was due for release from prison for those offences that Gaia went missing - having become anxious about him being free again.

After an 11-day search, Gaia was found dead in undergrowth on a clifftop near her hometown of Swanage in Dorset.

An opening inquest later heard Ms Pope, who suffered from severe epilepsy, died from hypothermia.

Dorset Police's handling of both Gaia's allegation against Mr Hayes and the way it carried out the search for her is currently being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The two police watchdog probes are expected to conclude in February.

Mr Hayes has now appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court again where he pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch a sexual act.

The offences date back to 2015 and were discovered when Mr Hayes' computer was seized and examined as part a police investigation in 2016.

At the time Mr Hayes was working as a webcam model, selling video and live footage of himself engaging in sexual acts.

Police found messages between Mr Hayes and the victim which alluded to her being aged 15.

He sent her a link directing her to a pornographic website and there were 53 Skype video calls between them in a six-week period.

She told police Mr Hayes first contacted her via Facebook when she was 14 and during the videos, he asked her to undress and perform sexual acts. He also exposed himself to the girl.

In 2016 Mr Hayes was jailed for two years for a sexual abuse case involving a teenage girl.

Mr Hayes and friend William Wright filmed themselves having consensual sex with their victim and then posted the video on social media.

The pair were jailed for charges relating to taking an indecent image of a child under 18.

Detective Constable Mandy Brimicombe, of Dorset Police, said: "Connor Hayes targets vulnerable teenage girls for his own sexual gratification.

"He knew full well that his victim on this occasion was underage and that it was a serious criminal offence."

As well as being jailed again, Mr Hayes was told he would be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for ten years and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order he was already subject to was extended to 2028.

A spokesman for Gaia Pope's family said today: "The IOPC is still investigating Dorset Police's response to Gaia's allegations. It is to protect the integrity of this vital investigation that we cannot say any more publicly, except to ask that anyone with any relevant information come forward.

"Whatever happens, this all comes too late to save Gaia and save us the unending pain of life without her; but we are determined to do all we can to see others protected and justice done.

"All we can do is wait...and assure anyone out there who perhaps, like Gaia, feels ignored and afraid, that they are not alone."

Last month, on the first anniversary of her last being seen alive, her family urged members of the public to come forward with any relevant information.

They also launched an art project to remember her and to highlight the crisis in service provision for rape survivors and young people who have difficulties with their mental health.

Ms Pope's mother, Natasha, said: “This year has been more painful than words can say. Sometimes I can't believe I have survived it, but with my every breath I love and demand justice for my daughter. Since the Me Too [movement], we have seen a rising movement for the rights of women and girls. Change is coming.”

Her cousin, Marienna Pope-Weidemann, said: “When she was missing, it was the support and dedication from the public that kept us going. You gave us hope that we would find Gaia. A year after her death, we must call on you again to help us find justice for her.

“We can't do this without you. If you know anything that might aid the investigation into Gaia's rape case or the missing persons investigation and help us learn the truth, please come forward; not just for Gaia's sake, but for the sake of anyone else who might be at risk.”

Additional reporting by Bournemouth News & Picture Service