Man who groomed children online using social media platform jailed
A man who used a social media platform to have sexual communication with teenage girls has been jailed.
The investigation began in April 2025 when the defendant – 34-year-old Luke Morgan Leon Burton of Carterton in Oxfordshire – was found in a vehicle with a vulnerable teenage girl that he had met following online contact.
His digital devices were seized and examinations of them were carried out.
This uncovered messages on Snapchat arranging to meet the teenage girl, as well as messages to other underage girls and indecent images.
He pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing indecent images of category A and C, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act, sexual communication with a child and attempted sexual communication with a child.
Burton was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday 18 May 2026 to six years in prison. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for ten years and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for an indefinite period.
Detective Sergeant Al Marks, of the Safeguarding Hub, said: “Burton posed a serious risk to teenage girls and carried out his offending despite knowing how old his victims were.
“I am pleased that following our investigation, led by Detective Constable Lucy Johnson, we were able to bring Burton before the courts and stop his offending.
“This case serves as a reminder to parents to make sure their children are protected when online. To find out more information about what steps you can take to keep children safe, please visit Online child abuse | Dorset Police.”
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