A man who groomed a nine-year-old girl and encouraged her to engage in sexual activity has been jailed for 54 months.

Daniel Willacy, 29, of Woking, was also issued with a 10-year restraining order against the victim after pleading guilty to charges of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a girl under 16 years of age following grooming.

Willacy’s offending was reported in February 2024 after the victim’s mother and sister found Snapchat and Instagram messages on her phone from Willacy encouraging her to take videos of herself while engaging in sexual activity.

Following further enquiries, officers established that the offending Instagram account was shown to have been used at Willacy’s home address on a number of occasions and he was arrested.

Further forensic investigation work on the victim’s phone located the chat log with Willacy’s account, as well as the video that she was groomed into making and sending to him.

It later transpired that Willacy had used an alias when he first contacted the victim. However, his messages quickly became sexual in nature, with him sending 36 messages within 26 minutes at one point.

Messages were also found including repeated requests for indecent photos and videos of the victim.

Willacy was sentenced last week at Guildford Crown Court.

Detective Constable Jo Holland, who investigated the case, said: “Willacy used an alias to trick the victim into engaging with him, but it didn’t take him long to reveal the real reason he had reached out to her.

“His demands for photos and videos of the victim were wholly inappropriate and unacceptable, and thankfully his abhorrent behaviour was stopped in its tracks before they were able to meet up.

“This case highlights the importance of getting in touch with us if you have any concerns about either yourself, or someone close to you, being targeted and groomed in this way. We will believe you and you will be supported.”

For information or help, visit the Surrey Police website.