A 'PREDATOR' who raped a 12-year-old Beckenham girl after grooming her over the internet has been convicted along with two other members of a paedophile ring.

The three men were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court after the victim was manipulated, abused and raped.

David Jukes, aged 28, from the West Midlands, pretended to be a 15-year-old boy and played games with the victim on the internet.

He had previously pleaded guilty to rape of a child aged under 13, sexual activity with a child under 13 and two counts of grooming a child under 13.

He was jailed for eight years.

Jamie Derriman, aged 27, of Thicket Road, Bromley, had previously pleaded guilty to 14 counts of possessing indecent images/videos of children and two counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Derriman was given a six-month suspended sentence and a rehabilitation and education order.

Aaron Cool, aged 20, from Hampshire, had previously pleaded guilty to inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He was sentenced to a three-month suspended sentence and a rehabilitation and education order.

Investigating officer Acting Detective Sergeant Gary Castle said: "A vulnerable 12-year-old child was abused by Jukes, a dangerous predatory paedophile who was part of a network of paedophiles including Derriman and Cool.

"All of them exploited and abused the victim and they deserve the sentences handed down."

Police were made aware of a 12-year-old Beckenham girl who was possibly pregnant on January 13, 2012.

The girl was not pregnant but inquiries revealed she had been in a relationship with Jukes after being groomed over the internet.

Jukes then travelled down from Walsall to meet her and gain her trust and after manipulating, bullying and threatening her, he raped her.

He continued to control her and used the internet to subject her to further sexual acts.
Jukes was traced through internet inquiries and arrested in Walsall.

Computer equipment seized from his home identified two more men as having abused the victim - Derriman and Cool, a registered sex offender.

They were arrested and their computers also seized.

Detective Chief Inspector Pete Thomas, from the Met Police's Sapphire unit, said: "These convictions send a clear message to those who target children for sexual gratification that no stone will be left unturned by the police to arrest those who abuse children.

"Child abuse in all its forms is abhorrent and causes untold damage to victims and their families.

“Targeting those offenders and bringing them before the courts is central to our commitment to safeguard all children from these pernicious people."