A child molester, Carl Lintern, employed at a renowned funfair in Wales has been incarcerated for grooming girls as young as 11 whom he encountered at his workplace.
Carl Lintern, aged 42, was employed at Barry Island Pleasure Park during the summer of 2023.
He manipulated victims encountered during his employment at the renowned South Wales attraction by providing them with food, alcohol, cigarettes, and plush toys.
He initially attracted the notice of South Wales Police when the parents of one of his victims approached him in person at his workplace.
Characterising him as “unperturbed” in light of their allegations, they captured an image of Carl Lintern and submitted it to a police officer.
The Child Exploitation Team at South Wales Police initiated an investigation and discovered how Carl Lintern groomed his victim by purchasing cigarettes, providing carnival tokens, and gifting soft toys, prior to sexually assaulting her.
He was apprehended at the fairground, and shortly thereafter, investigators discovered evidence of additional assault involving other victims.
The inquiry revealed multiple additional victims whom Carl Lintern had exploited by befriending them on social media, transmitting indecent photographs of himself, and monitoring them in their daily activities.
He frequently manipulated his victims at the amusement park where he was employed, lavishing them with presents and attention.
Carl Lintern would infiltrate their Snapchat accounts before extorting them for pornographic photographs.
Upon the victims’ request for solitude, he subsequently threatened to disseminate private images as a method of maintaining control.
When interrogated over his misconduct, he refuted any awareness of engaging in sexual contact with the victims.
He asserted that the funfair had transformed into a “Carl fan club” and that he was “endeavouring to assist the girls.”
Carl Lintern, residing on Barrasford Road in Cramlington, was accused with several offences and subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing indecent photos of a minor and threatening to disseminate a photograph or film of an individual in an intimate condition.
He additionally entered a plea of not guilty to participating in sexual behaviour in the presence of a minor under 13, as well as two charges of sexual assault against a female, but was subsequently convicted after a trial.
On Monday, March 10, he was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison at Cardiff Crown Court.
Detective Constable Robyn Allen, from the South Wales Police Child Exploitation Team, said: “Carl Lintern used his job at the fairground as a way to meet and groom his vulnerable victims. He would coerce and control them to maintain a grip on their life which made them feel helpless.
“His criminal behaviour and distorted sense of reality has no place in society. I hope the victims and their families can take some comfort from knowing he is now in jail where he is no longer a threat to others. Today’s sentence should serve as a warning to others who are either involved in offending of this nature or are considering it.”
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