'Manipulative' Blackburn man jailed for grooming schoolgirl
A man who groomed a schoolgirl before taking naked photographs of her while she was unconscious has been jailed.Gregg Riley drugged his 15-year-old victim and then, while she lay "dipping in and out of consciousness" at his Blackburn home, took photographs of her.Lancashire Police also said the 44-year-old targeted other girls who attended the same high school in the county, telling them about his sexual fantasies on Snapchat.Riley, who admitted 17 child sex offences including sexual activity with a child, sexual grooming and making indecent images, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court to 17 years in prison.
'Lost consciousness'
Lancashire Police said it was contacted by the school's safeguarding lead on 5 July 2024.Concerns were expressed about a number of students in year 8 and year 10 regarding a man they had been in contact with via Snapchat.The victim outlined how Riley had picked her up and given her ketamine.The court heard that while driving the schoolgirl to Blackpool, and knowing she was only 15, Riley told her: "We are going to move away to Scotland so that we can get married, because you can get married at 16."Riley later took her back to his home but she was unconscious from the ketamine he had given her.Police said the girl lost consciousness several times on the journey and to be carried into the house.Riley illegally engaged her in sexual activity and took naked images of her without her knowledge.The girl later blocked Riley on Snapchat.
'Sordid sexual interests'
Police said Riley then pursued another victim, making sexualised comments about her hair and her school uniform.He asked her to meet him and said he wanted to have sex with her.Police said the victim had sent Riley sexualised images and a video of herself and that Riley had paid her between £200 and £260 via PayPal.Riley also told another 15-year-old that he had a sexual dream about her.After his arrest, Riley's phone was seized and police found 294 indecent images of children and four prohibited images.Within this download there was a large number of photographs, including of children Riley did not know. There were screenshots taken from social media which had been doctored to make them appear to be naked.He pleaded guilty to 17 offences when he appeared at Preston Crown Court at a hearing last year.Det Sgt Stu Peall said: "Riley is a manipulative individual who targeted and groomed his victims for his own sordid sexual interests. "He knew exactly how old his victims were and exploited their vulnerabilities for his own ends."
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