December 2017

‘Despicable’ paedophile who forced victim to watch sex acts jailed

A 54-year-old man has been given a 16 year prison sentence for a string of sexual abuse committed against teenage girls from across the country. 

Craig Lewis, of Cranwell Village, Lincolnshire, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court to receive his sentence after being found guilty of child grooming, sexual assault and causing a child to watch a sex act.

An investigation was launched into Lewis in December 2016 after an anonymous referral made to the NSPCC was reported to police.

Lewis previously pleaded guilty to:

• Abusing three teenage girls aged between 13 and 14 years old from Rotherham, Grimsby and Oxford;

• Possession of indecent images;

• Inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

• Possession; distribution and making of indecent images;

An investigation revealed Lewis had used online social media apps to form a relationship with and arranged to meet one of the victims on a number of different occasions.

During these meetings, Lewis encourage the victim to take and share photos and videos of herself online.

Through this investigation and a review of his mobile phone activity, officers identified two further victims and with assistance from both Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire police Lewis was charged with the remaining offences.