Northamptonshire man faces 33 charges of using Facebook to befriend and incite children to perform sex acts
A FACEBOOK user from Northamptonshire faces 33 child sex charges, which allege he contacted up to 200 children using false identities in attempts to groom them.
Liam Shields was remanded in custody by magistrates in Northampton yesterday after they heard he had allegedly used the social networking website to befriend teenage boys and girls by using a number of different online aliases. It is also alleged he then tried to incite them to take pictures of themselves performing sex acts.
Although only 33 specimen charges were referred to in the court case, Julie Costello, prosecution told the court yesterday the Crown would allege he had contacted about 200 children. She said: “The Crown will say that the children referred to in these charges were actively targeted and pursued, and incited to engage in sexual activity with themselves in his attempt to groom them.”
Mrs Costello said the allegations included that Shields, aged 29, had contacted children, some of who were as young as 12 years old and as old as 15.
The charges claim that he had set up Facebook accounts in several different profile names.
Shields, who entered no plea at the early-stage hearing yesterday morning, has been charged with a variety of internet sex and grooming offences. They include inciting children to engage in sexual activity, attempting to meet children after grooming them, engaging in sexual activity in front of a child aged under 13. He is also accused of possessing, making and distributing indecent pictures of a child.
The magistrates declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Northampton Crown Court, where it will be heard at a later date.
Shields was also remanded in custody. until that date.
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