Blackburn man jailed after drugging and sexually assaulting schoolgirl
Gregg Riley was sentenced to 17 years in prison for his offences
A man from Blackburn has been sent to prison after drugging and sexually assaulting a schoolgirl in his home.
Gregg Riley was sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to the offences at Preston Crown Court last year.
Riley, 44, had groomed a 15-year-old girl on Snapchat, and had targeted a number of other girls in the same school in East Lancashire by paying for Snapchat Premium in return for naked photos.
Lancashire Police were first alerted to Riley's actions by the lead of safeguarding at the school, after students from Years 8 and 10 reported the man.
One victim spoke to the lead, saying that Riley had picked her up, given her ketamine and proceeded to kiss her, whilst saying he "only wanted her, forever".
The girl was then driven to Blackpool, as Riley alluded to the possibility to moving to Scotland shortly after she turned 16, as this was the legal age for getting married.
Taking her back to his home in Blackburn, Riley proceeded to sexually assault her and take naked photos of her while she drifted in and out of consciousness several times during the encounter.
Looking into the messages exchanged, Riley appeared to pay for the girl's Snapchat Premium subscription, in exchange for sharing nude photos and telling her about his fantasies of necrophilia.
After being arrested by Lancashire Police, police found 294 indecent images of children, and four images being deemed as "prohibited".
Now of no fixed address, Riley was charged with causing or inciting a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child, possessing a prohibited image of a child.
During his sentencing on Wednesday (April 23rd), Riley was given a jail term of 17 years and had been given a seven-year licence after being deemed a "dangerous offender" by the presiding judge.
On top of this, Riley would be made to sign onto the Sex Offenders' Register for life, as well as a lifetime restraining order against Riley by his victims.
Speaking on the ruling, Detective Sergeant Stu Peall said: "Riley is a manipulative individual who targeted and groomed his victims for his own sordid sexual interests. He knew exactly how old his victims were and exploited their vulnerabilities for his own ends.
“I welcome the sentence handed down to Riley today which indicates the danger he poses to female children.
“Finally, I want to take this opportunity to praise the victims for the bravery they have shown in speaking up about Riley’s behaviour towards them."