A pilot from British Airways manipulated a 12-year-old girl into believing she was in a caring relationship before traveling a long distance to sexually assault her.
Kwame Yeboah, a former England youth basketball player, met the young girl on Omegle, a video chat website, and continued their interaction on Instagram, exchanging explicit messages, photos, and video calls over a period of three months.
Liverpool Crown Court was informed that the 30-year-old pilot journeyed from Reading to the Wirral after engaging with the girl online.
Concerned by her daughter’s online interactions and subsequent sexual encounter, the girl’s mother contacted Merseyside Police, who revealed that the man drove a black Mercedes and had saved his contact under a false name in the girl’s phone.
Despite initially denying any wrongdoing when questioned by the authorities, the girl later admitted to engaging in sexual activity with Yeboah. She resisted the suggestion of emergency contraception, expressing a desire to keep any potential pregnancy.
Yeboah booked a hotel room on Merseyside and arranged to meet the girl after she sneaked out of her home to join him in his black Mercedes. Although she initially claimed to be 17, she later revealed her true age through details in their conversations.
During the encounter, Yeboah pressured the girl for sexual activities and assaulted her in two separate locations. He also messaged her afterward, displaying concerns about her obtaining emergency contraception.
The court found evidence of grooming behavior by Yeboah, noting his attempts to manipulate and emotionally blackmail the girl. He was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison for three counts of rape of a child under 13 and assault of a child under 13 by penetration. Additionally, he received an extended year on license.
The victim, deeply affected by the abuse, has been struggling with confidence, sleep issues, and concentration at school. Yeboah was issued a restraining order preventing contact with the girl for 15 years and will be registered as a sex offender for life.
