Durham University student exchanged over 1,000 messages with 13-year-old girl – sentenced for meeting child following sexual grooming
Durham University Student Exchanged Over 1,000 Messages with 13-Year-Old Girl Outside Supermarket
A shocking case has emerged from Durham University, where a student exchanged over 1,000 messages with a 13-year-old girl he had “befriended” outside a supermarket. Sitikantha Mohanty, a 50-year-old married man studying for a masters degree in business administration, approached the underage girl outside a County Durham Lidl and began a disturbing relationship with her.
Mohanty, who was in the UK on a student visa from India, bombarded the young girl with messages and even met up with her on occasions. The pervert’s actions left the girl battling PTSD and mental health issues, including self-harm. The girl’s mother stated that Mohanty had “ruined her life” and left her family devastated.
On Friday, Mohanty appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for meeting a child following sexual grooming. He admitted the charge and required a Hindi interpreter throughout the proceedings. The court heard that Mohanty had encouraged the child to send him photographs and engaged in inappropriate conversations with her.
In a victim statement, the girl’s mother described the impact of Mohanty’s actions on her daughter, who is on the autistic spectrum. She mentioned that her daughter had to be put on medication for PTSD and suffers from flashbacks due to the trauma inflicted by Mohanty.
Despite his defense claiming that Mohanty was living an isolated existence and made a “terrible mistake,” Judge Jo Kidd sentenced him to 20 months in jail and issued a 10-year restraining order. Additionally, a 10-year sexual harm prevention order was made, and Mohanty may face deportation following his sentence.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online grooming and the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from predators like Mohanty. The sentencing sends a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will face severe consequences for their actions.