Predator who brought about his own downfall after snaring 45 innocent children in twisted crimes will spend DECADES behind bars
07.09.2023 - 11:33
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A sick sex offender who posed as model scout for major clothing brands has been locked up for 30 years. David Harmes, from Cheshire, targeted young children in both the UK and the United States.
In a twisted operation described by a judge as 'sophisticated', Harmes used a host of different disguises to draw his victims in. As well as a scout called Jess, he also posed as boys named Jaden, 'Jadenthelad' and Alex, to name but a few.
Cheshire Police says Harmes drew his victims in after spotting them on YouTube or Instagram. He kept his real identity hidden as he manipulated youngsters to fuel his obsession - but he was rumbled after accidentally filming his own face on webcam.
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Harmes, 27, targeted 44 young girls aged six to 15, and one boy, between July 2019 and February 2020. He was previously sentenced for similar crimes before he was released from jail on February 14, 2019.
Five months later, he began offending again. Officers seized Harmes' laptops, phones and other digital devices from his home on Wharton Gardens, Winsford.
He was returned to prison for breaching his Sex Offender Notification Order on February 8, 2020, which prevented him from committing further crimes. Detectives gathered evidence from Harmes' devices and discovered his distinctive bedding in images.
They also found footage of Harmes accidentally opening his laptop and recording his face for a few seconds. Cheshire Police liaised with authorities in the USA to secure evidence from victims in America, and on May 18 Harmes was issued a summons in HMP Risley to appear in court.
He was charged with 88 sex offences involving 39 victims from the UK and six in