Parents are being warned to talk to their children about internet hazards after a 13-year-old was groomed by an unknown guy on social media.
On July 6, Cheshire Police were approached by the girl’s parents from Warrington, who felt their daughter was being groomed using Snapchat.
Officers determined that the mystery male had given the girl several indecent recordings, and the girl had also provided photographs of herself.
They determined that the man had also communicated with at least six other youngsters over social media.
The agency said an investigation into the reports is underway, and officers are doing everything they can to find the culprit.
Detectives are now advising other parents to talk with their children about what they are doing online.
Detective Sergeant Joe Davies of the Northern Proactive Policing Team stated, “While mobile phones and social media can be a valuable tool for parents and their children, we know they are also widely used by those who prey on children for sexual gratification.
“Many of these people will deliberately target young children, telling them that they are in love and pressuring them to share photographs and videos of themselves on social media.
“That is why we encourage all parents to talk with their children about what they are doing on their phones, what applications they have loaded, and who they are connecting with.
“While we understand that this can be a difficult conversation, it essential that young people understand that it’s not normal to view or share inappropriate images and videos online, not only is it really dangerous and harmful, but also once an image has been sent, they never know where it will end up.”
More advice and help for parents dealing with online child abuse may be found on the Cheshire Police website here, as well as at Get Safe Online.