Six years for child sex predator who lured victims via teenage dating site

A middle-aged online predator who used a teenage dating app to lure and exploit his victims has been jailed for six years.

Valmiki Rampersad, 47, of Tudor Drive, Morden, who created 78 fake identities to pretend to be a teenage boy, was jailed at Croydon Crown Court yesterday.

He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Rampersad pleaded guilty to 26 offences: four counts of causing/inciting a girl, aged 13 to 15, to engage in sexual activity; 21 counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child; and one count of making indecent photographs of a child.

Rampersad groomed his victims using online social networking website Mylol.com, designed for teen dating, as a gateway to meet and sexually exploit vulnerable young children.

Between October 2017 and September 2018 he was a prolific offender, targeting 21 different children aged between 13 and 15.

To befriend children online, Rampersad created 78 bogus profiles depicting himself as a teenage boy. Hidden behind these elaborate and carefully constructed aliases he engaged the victims in highly explicit sexting, fantasy role-play and live web camera chats.

In December 2017 detectives executed a warrant at Rampersad’s home address and seized a number of electronic devices. He was arrested two days later.

Detective Constable Tom Ward said: “Rampersad used social media to prey on young vulnerable teenage girls, invading the privacy of their own homes for the sole purpose of gaining sexual gratification.

“I would like to praise the courage of those girls who have spoken with us. However, we believe that there may be other victims who have not come forward or been identified. I would encourage anyone who has been coerced in such a way to contact the police.

“This case is a stark reminder that there are people who use the internet and social media sites as a way to commit sexual offences. It is up to all us, not just the police, to speak to young people and advise them on how they can safely use technology.”