Sex offender banned from contacting children found living with teenage girl

A convicted sex offender banned from communicating with children met a teenage girl online and then started living in her home.

Jake Booth, from Tonbridge, created an internet chat group for motorbike enthusiasts and used the forum to start initial contact with the child.

Their conversations moved to Snapchat before Booth made arrangements to meet the girl and her parents.

Booth gained the confidence of her family and after convincing them they were simply close friends he was allowed to stay in their home. 

Ignored strict court measures

Unbeknown to the family, Booth was the subject of a sexual harm prevention order following previous convictions for making indecent images of children.

The order was made by the courts in 2022 and had a duration of 10 years.

It included strict measures to protect children and meant he was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact or communication with anyone under 16. 

Booth, 22, of Pembury Grove, Tonbridge was arrested on 11 April 2024, when he was found by officers in the child’s bed.

He was charged with 14 offences relating to breaches of a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements.

Booth pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court, and on 31 January 2025 was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

Predatory offender

Leading the investigation was PC Lorny Booth who said:

‘Jake Booth effectively groomed this child and then exploited her family’s trust, whilst he sought to evade the many strict measures designed to prevent him from reoffending. 'Whilst there is no evidence in this case to directly connect Booth to any sexual abuse offences, the prison sentence passed by the courts demonstrates that he is a manipulative and predatory offender who poses a clear threat to children.’