Fri, 20 Jul 2018
Michelle Heeley QC of No5 Barristers’ Chambers acted for the prosecution in the case of a prolific paedophile who has been jailed for eight years.
Henri Michael Pinney, 22, of Wynfield Road, Leicester, sexually groomed dozens of boys by posing as a teenage girl online.
Pinney denied 40 offences against boys aged between 10 and 17, including making indecent photographs and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Following a six-week trial, Pinney was jailed for eight years at Leicester Crown Court for offences totalling 40 counts relating to indecent images and inciting youngsters online to engage in sexual activity. Pinney was also given a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The trial covered cases between the start of 2015 and the end of 2017. Pinney groomed victims by pushing them to take and send indecent pictures of themselves. On several occasions, he persuaded the children to use Skype to engage in video-messages, but he would always make an excuse that his camera and microphone were broken so that he could continue to communicate by typed messages whilst watching the live videos.
Pinney first came to the attention of police in June 2016 when a report was made from a concerned mother about her son having sent indecent images of himself to someone he believed was a girl on Facebook. Inquiries revealed that the Facebook profile was created at Pinney’s home address, and he was arrested.
Police paid tribute to the courage of the victims, some of whom gave evidence in court. The inquiry is continuing as police believe Pinney could have been in contact with further children.
To read more about this case visit https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-44780769
Michelle Heeley QC is a member of the following groups at No5 Barristers' Chambers: Crime, Criminal Fraud and Proceeds of Crime, Misconduct and Compliance and Regulatory & Licensing.
View Michelle Heeley’s profile here: https://www.no5.com/barristers/barrister-details/305-michelle-heeley-qc/
