Kieran Ridgeway, a 29-year-old man from Coalville, Leicestershire, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for multiple sexual offences against underage girls. He was found guilty at Leicester Crown Court after a trial in May.
Offering Alcohol for Sexual Acts
Ridgeway contacted his victims through social media, offering them alcohol in exchange for sexual acts. The offences occurred between June 2017 and February 2020. Police were alerted after the parents of two girls reported the abuse. Investigations revealed three additional victims, all under 16.
Ridgeway would meet the girls in car parks, and one victim believed she was in a relationship with him. In police interviews, he denied the allegations, claiming an unknown person had set up a fake social media profile in his name. He said he bought alcohol for the girls out of kindness.
Conviction and Sentence
Ridgeway was convicted of five counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, non-penetrative sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following grooming, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. He was arrested in October 2021.
In addition to the nine-year sentence, Ridgeway will serve a three-year extended licence period upon release. He was also issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Police Praise Victims' Bravery
Detective Constable Stacey Swan, who led the investigation, praised the victims for their courage. 'The victims in this case have shown immense bravery in coming forward and discussing these awful experiences,' she said. 'I hope that they take some comfort that Kieran Ridgway has now been brought to justice for his crimes.'
