A paedophile whose 15-year-old pregnant victim was found by police hiding in a cupboard at his home has been jailed for almost five years.
Ronan Cambridge was initially given "the benefit of doubt" by officers when, following his arrest last summer, he told them he believed she was 17. But Maidstone Crown Court heard that despite her true age being made clear to him and then bailed with a strict condition not to contact the vulnerable teenager, the then 25-year-old continued to message, meet up and engage in sexual activity with her.
Continued contact despite bail conditions
On one occasion, he even told the youngster he needed to bathe in case police wanted to take DNA swabs. It was also discovered that he was the father of her unborn child.
Cambridge, of Palm Drive, Rochester, later pleaded guilty to meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual activity with a child, and making indecent images of a child.
Court hears of 'deliberate, sustained' breach
At his sentencing hearing on Monday (August 3), prosecutor Daisy Kell-Jones said Cambridge, now 26, was first arrested after police found the girl hiding at his home, having been reported missing. On that occasion, he was interviewed before being released on the proviso that he had no further dealings with the adolescent.
"He said he thought she was 17 and, with there seeming to be an element of truth to that, he was given the benefit of doubt," said the prosecutor. "But he was clearly told she was 15 and was bailed with a condition not to contact her."
The relationship persisted unabated, however, with "hundreds, if not thousands" of messages exchanged between them across "all sorts" of social media platforms, added Ms Kell-Jones.
Arrest and sentencing
They also continued to engage in sexual activity and, on one occasion, he told the girl "I know you're 15, but there is something different about you". The prosecutor told the court that Cambridge's messaging demonstrated "an awareness of the illegality" of what was going on. "He talks about needing to get a bath as he has a feeling police will want to take DNA swabs again," she explained.
The refuse collector, who has no previous convictions, was re-arrested a month later and, despite lying about having no contact with the girl, denying making her pregnant, and refuting giving her an engagement ring, he was again bailed with the same condition. Cambridge, however, remained undeterred. "Messages were sent continuously and repeatedly, telling her he loves her and wants to be there for her, and asking when he is going to see her," said Ms Kell-Jones.
It was in September last year, notwithstanding his attempts to flee officers by jumping out of a second floor window, that he was apprehended for a third and final time. On being detained, he said: "I'm trying to save myself because I'm on f***ing bail." His phone, found under a mattress in his bedroom, was seized and analysed. Among photos of the girl was a video montage of him kissing her, as well as one of her performing oral sex. When interviewed, he accepted the footage had been created while he was on bail.
Harriet Snookes, defending, told the court Cambridge had been told "from the outset" the girl was 17 and was shown a birth certificate in support. But she said he blamed his "stupid immaturity" for maintaining contact once he knew her to be underage. "He accepts the relationship continued and it shouldn't have," she added. "He says this was a stupid error of judgement and knows he shouldn't have remained in contact with her. He puts it down to stupid immaturity."
Cambridge, who has been on remand for 11 months, was told by the judge, Recorder Cairns Nelson KC, that he repeatedly "went right through that red light" of knowing her true age and being bailed with a non-contact condition. "I have to deal with you for your conduct against a 15-year-old child over a three-month period last year," said Recorder Nelson. "This wasn't a one-off lapse of judgement by an immature person. This was a deliberate, sustained, knowing breach of the law."
Cambridge was jailed for a total of four years and 10 months, of which he will serve two-thirds, less time already spent in custody. He was also made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements.
