Teenager jailed for 17 sex offences against girls

Corie Adams (18) was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court this morning (Friday) after admitting 17 sexual offences, which he carried out when he was aged between 16 and 18.

His offences included two counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act.

Adams, of HMP Marshgate but formerly from Maltby, also admitted four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of rape and one count of grooming.

The rapist committed some of the offences while on police bail.

Judge Sarah Wright postponed sentencing Adams on Tuesday because she said it was a “very difficult sentencing exercise”.

The judge said on Tuesday the age disparity between offender and victims was not a “significant disparity”, but neither was it a case of a “16-year-old male and a 15-year-old female”.

Adams met his victims through hanging around Rotherham town centre and through social media.

He used Snapchat, Facebook, Facetime and Skype to speak to girls who he knew were under 16.

Det Insp John Fitzgibbons said: “Adams has been remanded in custody since earlier this year because of the risk he posed to young people in Rotherham and the sentence passed down to him today reflects the gravity of his crimes.

“He is now behind bars for a lengthy period of time. 

“I hope this allows his victims, who have shown incredible bravery throughout our investigation, an opportunity to begin to heal from this horrific abuse with the support of specialist agencies.

“It takes such courage to come forward and report sexual abuse and I hope that if there are other victims out there, they feel that they can come forward and report what happened to them, knowing there are officers and other agencies out there who will do all they can to put offenders behind bars.”

Adams was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

You can report concerns for a child by calling police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. 

Or text the national child sexual exploitation helpline Say Something on 116 000.