Navy sex fiend: Clayton Wilson jailed for grooming underage girls via Instagram and Snapchat
A navy seaman based at HMAS Cerberus used social media as a “hunting place” for underage girls, including a 13-year-old victim he assaulted at a Melbourne park.
South East
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A navy seaman groomed several underage girls via Instagram and Snapchat, and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old victim at a Melbourne park.
Clayton Wilson, 21, was sentenced in the County Court on March 27 to a minimum 26 months’ prison after pleading guilty to sexual penetration of a child under 16 and using a carriage service for child pornography.
Wilson hunted his victims while stationed as a trainee naval electrician at HMAS Cerberus between August and October 2018.
Wilson used Instagram and then Snapchat to “bombard” his victims with hundreds of “sexualised” messages and images.
The sailor offered his victims cash and gifts in exchange for lewd photos.
He told his victims – all aged between 13 and 15 – that he was younger than what he was.
Wilson’s lewd offending did not stop even after he became aware his victims were underage, the court heard.
Wilson – whose 18-page summary of offending was submitted to the court – told one victim he wanted to have sex with her.
Wilson obtained her mobile number but she blocked him.
He offered her “hundreds of dollars” for lewd photos.
Wilson then groomed a 13-year-old victim he sexually assaulted at a Melbourne park.
Wilson offered another victim “$500-$1500” for lewd images.
Two victims reported Wilson to police in November 2018
Investigators discovered more than 2200 text messages between Wilson and a victim.
Wilson was arrested and charged on November 22 but later released on bail with conditions including not to contact his victims.
However, Wilson created fake social media aliases and harassed his victims multiple times between December 2018 and February 2019.
He asked them why they had reported him to police.
Police arrested Wilson on May 23.
Judge Gregory Lyon said Wilson’s “serious predatory sexual behaviour” should be “utterly condemned”.
“You brought about the offending … through manipulative conduct and your use of social media,” Judge Lyon said.
“(The offending) took place with full knowledge of the victim’s young age …
“She was vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation, matters to which you took full advantage.”
Judge Lyon said Wilson sent messages and images which were “communicated in a deeply explicit, pornographic and objectifying manner”.
Judge Lyon said social media “was no more than a hunting place” for Wilson.
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Wilson, originally from Perth, served nine months in the navy before he was discharged.
The court heard Wilson had been drinking alcohol and doing drugs while stationed at the Crib Point base.
Wilson – who spent 307 days in custody – was jailed for a maximum 48 months.
He was placed on the sex offender register for life.