A 30-year-old British Airways pilot, Kwame Yeboah, manipulated a 12-year-old girl into thinking she was in a caring relationship before traveling a long distance to sexually assault her. Yeboah, a former England youth basketball player, met the girl on the video chat platform Omegle and continued their explicit conversations on Instagram over a period of three months.

Liverpool Crown Court was informed that the pilot drove from Reading to Wirral to meet the girl after communicating with her online. The girl’s mother contacted Merseyside Police upon discovering her daughter had been in contact with a man online and had engaged in sexual activities with him.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the victim initially denied being assaulted and even refused emergency contraception, stating she would keep any potential baby. Yeboah booked a hotel room in Merseyside where the girl sneaked out of her house to meet him in his black Mercedes.

Despite the girl initially claiming to be 17, she later shared details that revealed her true age during their interactions. Yeboah pressured her to engage in sexual activities in a car park, leading to multiple instances of sexual assault and rape.

Following the incidents, Yeboah messaged the girl expressing concerns about her obtaining emergency contraception. The court condemned his actions as clear grooming behavior aimed at emotional manipulation. Yeboah pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and assault of a child under 13, receiving a sentence of eight years and four months in prison, with an additional year on license.

The abuse suffered by the victim had significant negative impacts on her confidence, sleep patterns, and school performance. Yeboah was also issued a restraining order preventing him from contacting the girl for 15 years and will be listed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.