Twenty three year old William Howarth was sentenced to 15 years and eight months with a further six years on licence after he pleaded guilty to 35 offences
Howarth was found to be in possession of an unregistered mobile phone in a visit from his offender manager in 2023, due to him being an already registered sex offender
A number of messages were found to have been sent to several young girls under the age 16.
One of the child victims told police how Howarth would call her “fat” and a “whore”. Whilst he told another girl how he liked her petite body and how big he would look next to her.
Another victim was living in terror after Howarth told her that nobody would believe what she had to say because she was young. In a message to her, he said “it sounds wrong but honestly don’t want to leave you. I’d rather risk it with you then leave u”, following him then disclosing to her his real age.
Howarth would send messages to these child victims about what he would like to do to them sexually, and would frequently request indecent images of themselves, directing what poses he wanted them to do for him. In return, he would send them videos of himself masturbating.
The child victims also explained how they felt pressured into sending him pictures of themselves to Howarth, and some were even subjected to threats from him.
One child victim described to police how she blocked Howarth on a social media site, but that she would receive friend requests from different accounts he would use to continue to message her. When he did manage to message her, he would threaten to distribute images of her online.
Howarth displayed controlling behaviour over the children he had been in contact with, not allowing them to refuse his requests. When the children attempted to make a stand and refuse to send further images, Howarth would threaten them by stating if they didn’t do as he asked, he would post their images online for people to see.
Detective Constable Joshua Cresswell, from GMP’s Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT), said: “I’d like to thank the brave child victims in supporting our investigating through agreeing to give us their harrowing accounts of how Howarth came in contact with them.
“Howarth was a registered sex offender on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was managed with regular checks.
“He thought he could get away with preying on young girls online while being managed under this order.
“Howarth is a disgraceful predator and belongs behind bars away from causing further harm to children.
“I’d like to reach out to child victims of sexual abuse to encourage them to come forward and report it to police.
“We are here to listen to you, and we will believe you no matter the passage of time. We can work at a pace that you are comfortable with.”
