Kwame Yeboah, a 30-year-old British Airways pilot and former England youth basketball international, has been sentenced to eight years and four months in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl after grooming her through social media. The offences occurred after he drove hundreds of miles from his home in Reading to the Wirral area to meet the victim.
Grooming and Manipulation Online
Yeboah first encountered the victim on the video chat platform Omegle, where participants are randomly paired with strangers. He then moved their conversations to Instagram, exchanging explicit messages, pictures, and video calls. The court heard that while the girl initially told Yeboah she was 17, she later sent him photos of herself in school uniform and referred to being grounded, indicating her true age.
Prosecutor Louise McCloskey described how Yeboah used emotionally manipulative language to pressure the girl into meeting him. Messages included: "I can't do this no more, because you're not meeting me. I can't call because it makes me sad, because I can't see you."
The Day of the Offences
Yeboah drove from Reading to the Wirral and booked a hotel room. The victim climbed out of her bedroom window to meet him in his black Mercedes. He drove her around before stopping at a car park, where he sexually assaulted and raped her. After being interrupted by another vehicle, he drove to a second location and raped her again.
The girl's mother alerted police after learning from a friend that her daughter had been speaking to an older man. When initially questioned, the victim was dismissive, saying: "I don't know why you had to tell the police. It's not like I've been raped or anything." She later confirmed the abuse.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Yeboah admitted three counts of rape of a child under 13 and one count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration. Appearing via video link from HMP Liverpool, he was sentenced by Judge Gary Woodhall at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday.
In mitigation, Richard Pratt KC said Yeboah had made a "grave error" seeking comfort through social media and fully accepted responsibility. He noted Yeboah's achievements as a basketball player and pilot, and his supportive family. However, Judge Woodhall highlighted the grooming behaviour, emotional blackmail, and planning involved, stating: "You are an older man, someone who has volunteered with children, and a professional."
Victim Impact and Police Statement
The victim's personal statement described nightmares, loss of confidence, difficulty sleeping and eating, and feelings of guilt and shame. Her schooling has also suffered. Yeboah was handed a 15-year restraining order and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.
Detective Constable Roxana Tusa said: "Our investigation has proved that Yeboah is a dangerous sexual offender who will now begin a significant jail sentence for his abhorrent crimes. After contacting his victim online, he groomed her and then travelled to Merseyside in order to abuse her."
