A teen who raped a 12-year-old schoolgirl after texting her on social media escaped from prison.
Marijuana smoker Joseph Flynn, from Newton-le-Willows in Merseyside, was 16 when he contacted the girl, sent her a picture of his penis and lured her to his home.
Flynn, now 18, was pardoned from prison despite telling the court he posed a high risk of reoffending — after his lawyer said the teen “lacked understanding of consent.”
The teenager, who was also found with inappropriate images of children, including one of a beast, was sentenced to a 12-month referral order at Liverpool Youth Court on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Cheryl Mottram told the court that the girl said she was struggling with her mental health at the time and felt she had done something wrong afterwards by “getting him into trouble.”
Joseph Flynn, 18 (pictured) from Newton-le-Willows in Merseyside raped a 12-year-old schoolgirl when he was 16 after messaging her on social media but avoided jail
She also said that she was quite clear in her account that at no point did Flynn ever force her to have sex, and she said yes to him at the time.
The victim said: I was flattered that he wanted to talk to me. I thought I was going to a friend’s house. I didn’t realize how dangerous it was.
She said at the time that she “felt obligated to protect him because I thought he was my friend” but has since realized that “what he did to me was wrong”.
Her mother said her daughter was “looking for a connection” after being bullied at school.
Flynn pleaded guilty to one count of rape of a girl under the age of 13, three counts of taking indecent images of children, one count of possession of indecent images of children and one count of possession of extreme pornography showing bestiality.
Flynn first spoke to the schoolgirl via social media in early 2021. When she asked about their age gap, Flynn said it was okay.
They talked, video called and sexted. When Flynn asks if the girl wants to have sex with him, she replies “yes and no” because of her age.
Flynn said she was “fit” and sent her a picture of his penis.
Flynn was interviewed at the beginning of 2021 and did not respond to all questions put to him and has been released on bail.
In November 2021, police raided his home and found a cache of inappropriate children’s photos and videos, including one involving bestiality.
Flynn accepted that the photos were of him and were sent to him after he joined a group on Snapchat. He said he thought he deleted it.
The student said she sent pictures of herself to Flynn at his request, and they were found on his phone.
The teenager, who was also found with a slew of perverted images of children, including one of a beast, was sentenced to a 12-month referral order at Liverpool Youth Court (pictured) on Wednesday
Mildly, Frank Dillane said his client lacks an understanding of sex and consent and needs to be educated.
Despite Flynn’s assessment of a high risk of re-offending, Dylan said this could be changed with the help of the Young Offenders Service.
He said Flynn was very isolated after he was arrested and his marijuana use had exacerbated mental health issues from loneliness.
“We accept that there is an element of denial but a strong motivation to engage with youth service,” Mr. Dylan said.
“It expresses concern and sympathy, acknowledges wrongdoing and regrets the complainant’s plight.”
He added that his client also agreed that as the older person, he should have been the one to stop any sexual activity.
Regarding the indecent photos, Mr. Dylan said Flynn viewed them out of curiosity at first but agreed that he had received some sexual gratification from them.
‘I think you were a 16-year-old boy who was sexually active and you set the tone,’ said County Judge Clark.
You are more responsible than you take on the offending youth team. This is an example of you taking advantage of the situation.
There was a sex drive and I took advantage of it because you were more experienced and more developed.
You set the tone, you talked about sexuality, you sent sexual images and you received sexual images and you already have images of a sexual nature on your phone.
Flynn was sentenced to a 12-month referral order with the youth offending team and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order limiting his access to the Internet for five years. Will be subject to notification requirements.
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