Man lured young boy to flat before sexually abusing him

The distress caused by Moore was described as “unfathomable”

A man has been jailed after he groomed a 14-year-old boy online and lured him to his flat for sexual activity. Darren Moore, 57, started communicating with the victim in early 2024 and, despite knowing the boy’s age, turned the conversation sexual.

Moore sent explicit photos of himself to the victim. He had also described what sexual acts he wanted to perform on him when they met up in person. Moore encouraged the victim to travel to his flat in Ely by train after school. The victim agreed and spent the evening at Moore’s flat, where he was sexually abused by Moore.

The victim’s mum became worried and called the police to report him as missing after he didn’t return home after school. After the victim got home later that evening, he told his parents what happened and the police were informed.

At Peterborough Crown Court on Thursday, May 21, Moore, of Market Street, Ely, was jailed for 10 years after he admitted to one count of inciting a boy aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a boy aged 13-15, one count of grooming, and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

DC Dan Knight, who investigated, said: “Despite knowing the victim’s age, Moore took the time to build a relationship with him online over the course of a few months, before he lured him to his flat and sexually abused him.

“The distress Moore has caused to the teenager, and his family, has been unfathomable, and I would like to commend the victim for his courage in reporting Moore, and supporting the investigation throughout.

“Grooming and sexual exploitation can have devastating effects on young people’s emotional development, mental health and self-esteem which stay with them into adulthood.

“I hope this sentence provides some closure to the victim and his family and shows that predatory behaviour towards children will not be tolerated.”

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