Ex Rugby Player Jailed For Grooming In Northwich

17 April 2012, 18:50 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

27 year old Gavin Venter has been locked up after befriending a girl online and then luring her to his flat in Northwich for sex.

Police analysed his computer later and found he had been in contact with seven other girls under the age of 16, and he had tried to meet at least one of them. 

Venter's career in rugby was ended by a car crash with a drunk driver and he needed a wheelchair while he was recovering. 

He knew the girl, who is from from Teesside, was under 16 yet still encouraged her to perform a sex act which he watched on a web cam, while he did the same as she watched. 

Venter, who is now an insurance agent, was jailed for four years and made subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. 

Robin Turton, defending, said Venter's obsession with rugby meant he had not developed socially and had limited experience of women his own age.