Rapist who took advantage of girl he met on social media is sentenced

A paedophile from Hereford who raped an underage girl he befriended on social media has today (Thursday 18 September) been sentenced to four years and three months.

Scott Chapman, 24, of Barklie Mead, Hereford, was convicted at Worcester Crown Court of one count of rape of a girl aged 13 to 15, four counts of sexual assault by penetration of a female aged 13 to 15 years, engaging in sexual communication with a child and making an indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child.

Chapman was further served a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to last for ten years, which means he is prohibited from unsupervised contact with a female under the age of 16, prohibited from conducting in paid or voluntary work which would involve contact with a female below the age of 16, and he must inform police of his address and details.

Chapman added his victim on Snapchat and Instagram in 2020 when he was 19 years old, before meeting her and engaging in sexual activity with her even though he knew she was only 14 at the time.

Chapman went on to rape and sexually assault his victim which was later reported to police, leading to his arrest in April 2022.

Evidence of these crimes and other sexual offences were uncovered by the investigation, and though he denied his intimate relationship with her, an examination of his phone proved otherwise.

Chapman continued to deny any sexual relations with his victim but ultimately pled guilty at court, which was reflected in his sentencing by the judge, alongside it being his first offence.

Detective Inspector Ben Pearson of Hereford CID said: “We are pleased to get this custodial sentence for Chapman who preyed on an underage girl he met on social media before raping and sexually assaulting her.

“We hope today’s verdict shows we will always pursue sexual predators like him and bring them before the courts to face justice and that it will encourage other victims of rape and sexual assault to come forward.

“We will always listen to you, take your concerns seriously and protect you from offenders like Chapman.”