NSPCC backs jail sentence for Telford child sex 'predator' Joe Hall
The NSPCC today welcomed a prison sentence given to a football coach who was jailed after being described by a judge as a “sexual predator” .
Joe Hall, 26, who held a supervisory role at a school and also volunteered with a dance team, was found guilty of seven counts including multiple charges of sexual activity with children aged between 13 and 17.
He was found not guilty of one count of possessing extreme pornographic images following a trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
Hall, of Brands Farm Way, Randlay, Telford, was jailed for 30-months.
NSPCC spokesman Adam Burling welcomed the conviction, which he said sent out an important message.
He said: “Hall abused his position of trust by grooming children who would have looked to him for guidance and support.
“It’s vital that young people are able to recognise the signs of grooming, and that they know where to turn for help.
“The online world presents a number of dangers for children and Hall used social media to target some of his victims.
“The NSPCC is currently campaigning to make the web safer and is calling on the government to introduce measures such as grooming alerts and an independent regulator to force social networks to protect children.”
Exposure
Charges faced by Hall mainly related to activity over mobile phones, including sending and requesting sexual pictures and videos.
A jury found Hall guilty of a number of sexual offences. They included indecent exposure and inciting young teenagers into sexual activity.
He was also found guilty of sending lewd pictures and a pornographic video link to another victim, inciting a child to observe him in a live feed on social media, and inciting a child to send sexual images to him.
With a further victim, Hall was found guilty of sending photos and a text message containing sexual references, and inciting the victim to engage in sexual activity.
His sentencing hearing on Friday was told that his behaviour had had a profound effect on his victims.
Judge Peter Barrie told him: “You became a sexual predator.
“One of the victims was interested in finding work within the company you worked for, and you gave the victim a lift and exposed yourself to her.
“It was to her credit that she refused point blank and walked away.”
