ALLEGED ONLINE GROOMER: SHREYAS GADEKAR CHARGED: CHILD GROOMING

Hi and welcome to this Jason King Insight:

SHREYAS GADEKAR, 25, from India, has been charged with attempting to groom and meet a 14 year old School Girl for Sex.

After she revealed that she was 14 he continued speaking sexually with her and sent her pornographic images, having met her on a site for over 20’s.

Gadekar is a Chemical Engineer in the UK on a Student Visa.

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ACCESS TO THE LAW: Understanding the Crime and Sentencing

As part of our campaign to improve citizens’ access and understanding of UK Criminal law, we will be explaining the relevant UK legislation surrounding any case law relevant to our articles:

Grooming a child for sexual purposes is a serious criminal offence under UK Law.The Sexual Offences Act 2003specifically addresses online grooming, making it illegal to communicate with a child with the intention of meeting for sexual activity.

Even if no physical contact occurs, the intent to exploit a child sexually is enough to secure a conviction. Sending explicit material to a child, as seen in this case, further compounds the severity of the offence, as it exposes minors to harmful and inappropriate content.

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Convictions can lead to lengthy prison sentences, as well as inclusion on the sex offenders’ register, which significantly restricts future employment and travel. Understanding these legal protections is vital for safeguarding vulnerable individuals, especially as online grooming cases continue to rise.

Additionally In the UK,Ignorance of the law is not a valid defense. This principle is based on the idea that the law is publicly accessible, and citizens have a duty to be informed. The courts should operate under “Ignorantia juris non excusat”, meaning ignorance of the law excuses no one.