Man sentenced following grooming conviction

David Telles, 38, from California, USA, has been sentenced to six years in jail after appearing at Exeter Crown Court yeserday (6 November).

Telles pleaded guilty to meeting a child following sexual grooming, abducting a child, three offences of sexual activity with a child, and engaging in a sexual act in the presence of a child at a hearing held at Exeter Crown Court in October.

Telles flew to the UK in June 2014 to meet the 14-year-old after exchanging messages online. He took her from Cornwall to a hotel near Exeter.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Andrea Kindgon said: “We are pleased with the sentence that David Telles received today.

“This case shows that police take this type of crime very seriously and highlights to those using the internet for criminal activities, that there are no boundaries to an investigation and authorities will take proactive action.

“Cases of this type once again show the importance of people knowing who they are communicating with on the internet. It is important to realise that if you have never met the person you are communicating with, that they could be a different age, sex, or profession than they are claiming to be".

She added: “While people often embellish harmless details about themselves, there are those who may lie for a more sinister reason. This does not only happen to young people, as adults can as easily be taken in by such lies.

“If you are in anyway concerned regarding someone you or a young person is communicating with apply the appropriate caution and, if in doubt, stop the communication and report anything suspicious to authorities.”