East London Man Jailed for Grooming and Raping Young Boys

Barthimaus Ehiemere, a 25-year-old man from East London, has been sentenced to prison for grooming and sexually assaulting young boys. Ehiemere used social media to lure seven boys, some as young as 12, into sending explicit videos and offered them small sums of money for sexual acts. He was jailed after admitting to 32 offences, including child rape under 13 and violations of a previous sexual harm prevention order.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court, evidence revealed that Ehiemere posed as a trombonist with a camel business in Dubai to manipulate his victims. He raped two boys after enticing them to meet him, with the court hearing disturbing details of his predatory behavior. In August 2023, he was convicted of an additional 15 offences, which included further sexual assaults and paying for the sexual services of minors.

Ehiemere’s criminal history dates back to September 2020, when he was found with hundreds of indecent images of young boys. He received a suspended sentence and was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order in 2021. Notably, his younger brother, Richard Ehiemere, was also convicted earlier this year of possessing indecent images and fraud related to personal data trafficking to a neo-Nazi group.

During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Ehiemere had contacted boys through the ‘Spotafriend’ app, where he distributed pornography and solicited explicit acts. One victim recounted how Ehiemere had offered him £20 for sex, claiming it would be “his first time.” The court heard that Ehiemere had a disturbing interest in the sexual exploitation of minors, as demonstrated by his search history, which included phrases like “young boy rape.”

Prosecutor James Brown KC outlined the depth of Ehiemere’s exploitation, stating, “What lays behind was a deep-seated interest and commercial interest in the sexual abuse of young teenage boys.” Authorities discovered around 1,600 indecent images on his phone, with approximately half in Category A, the most severe category depicting penetrative abuse.

In his defense, Barry Kogan emphasized Ehiemere’s youth and claimed that his past experiences shaped his behavior. He described Ehiemere’s strict upbringing in a Christian household and his struggles with his sexuality, pointing out that he felt groomed by an older man who introduced him to the world of sharing indecent images. Kogan urged for leniency, suggesting that Ehiemere still had the potential to lead a positive life despite his actions.

Ehiemere’s case highlights the alarming trend of online grooming and the severe repercussions for victims. The court’s decision aims to address the grave issues surrounding child exploitation and send a strong message against such heinous acts.