Sex offender has sentence appeal rejected
ATEENAGER who lured underage girls using Facebook before sexually abusing them has been told by top judges he cannot complain about his sentence.
Shane Michael Stott contacted his victims through the social media site and arranged to meet them before molesting one and having unprotected sex with two others.
He was “vindictive” to a fourth girl, who declined to meet him, posting her mobile phone number on the internet with an explicit video and suggesting she was available for sex.
The 19-year-old, of Bradley Smith Close, Rochdale, was branded a danger to the public and young girls after admitting sexual assault of a child, two counts of sexual activity with a child and stalking.
He was handed an extended sentence of eight years - made up of a fouryear term of youth detention and four-year additional licence period - at Manchester Crown Court in January last year.
Stott challenged his sentence at the Court of Appeal, in London, with his lawyers arguing it was “excessive”.
They said there was not enough evidence for the crown court judge to conclude he was “dangerous” and argued his detention term was “too long” in light of his youth.
But his appeal was rejected by three senior judges, who said his sentence could not be criticised given his “persistent and serious” sex offending against young girls.
The court heard Stott first targeted an underage girl online when he was 16 and sexually assaulted her after arranging to meet.
He was arrested after the victim complained and was released on bail, but continued to pursue other young girls.
He met and had sex with two girls - both teenagers the court heard.
After being spurned by a fourth girl, also a teenager, he became angry and sent her a message saying he was going to post something about her on Facebook in revenge.
He then posted an explicit video, together with the victim’s phone number and a message indicating she was available for sex - as a result of which she received about 30 phone calls.
Sentencing him, the crown court judge said his behaviour was “persistent and determined” and that he had shown “vindictiveness” when thwarted in his pursuit of sex with an underage girl.
A probation report concluded he posed a “high risk” of committing sex offences in future.
His lawyers argued the judge didn’t take enough account of his youth when passing his four-year term of youth detention and that he was wrong to conclude he is a danger to the public.
But, rejecting his appeal, Mr Justice Holroyde said Stott’s sentence was justified in light of his offending.
Sitting with Lord Justice Simon and Mr Justice Soole, he added: “At all material times, he knew that he was doing wrong with girls significantly younger than himself and he persisted in the offending even when he was on bail.
“There was here repeated, serious sexual offending against vulnerable young girls, characterised by an apparent inability on his part to control his behaviour and by his willingness to exert influence over young girls to cause them to indulge his wishes.
“All of these factors point to further serious harm being caused to young girls by similar offending in the future.”