Outwell man jailed after court hears he had sex with three underage girls who he targeted on social media

A man who had sex with three underage girls after targeting them on social media was today (Thursday) jailed for 16 years at Lincoln Crown Court.

Rui Pereira was 21 when he used his "small size" and "young appearance" to help him target under-age girls.

The court heard Pereira told his victims that he was just a couple of years older than them after meeting on social media platforms such as Instagram.

Pereira would then move their conversations onto the social media application Snapchat and arrange to meet up, the court was told.

Investigations showed Pereira engaged in sex with three different underage girls during the spring of 2022. The exact locations were not disclosed in court, and the identities of the victims have been protected.

Further enquiries showed Pereira had been in contact with two other under-age girls and was also in possession of indecent photos.

Pereira, now 24, of Wisbech Road, Outwell, dmitted 19 sexual charges including six counts of rape of a child under-13.

He also pleaded guilty to offences of sexual activity with a child, sexual assault of a child under 13, sexual communication with a child, taking indecent photos of a child and making indecent photos of a child.

One of Pereira's victims chose to read out her own impact statement in court.

She said: "I know there are more people like him out there, but he is the one I am most terrified of."

"I don't get to grow up like other kids, he took that from me," she added.

Statements from his other victims were read out by the prosecutor.

One stated: "He looked young. He used this."

Another added: "What he has done is absolutely disgusting."

Another victim submitted a piece of art to the court to demonstrate how Pereira "made her feel."

In mitigation the court was told Pereira had no previous convictions and had spent two years on bail with no further offending.

The court heard Pereira had suffered the traumas of losing his younger brother on his own birthday and moving to the UK from Portugal as a child.

Passing sentence, Judge Simon Hirst said he was satisfied that one victim had suffered severe psychological harm.

"Nobody could not be moved by what she said," Judge Hirst explained.

Judge Hirst said there was also an impact on his other victims.

"You used your youthful size and appearance to persuade them you were much younger than you were," Judge Hirst told Pereira.

Pereira was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a Restraining Order, which prevents any contact with the victims.

He must also serve an extended licence period of two years on his release from jail.