Online ‘groomers’ targeting Limavady children

The local DUP Councillor has moved to alert local parents to the dangers posed to children online after receiving a chilling report of a local child being targeted by a “groomer”.

In a warning posted to his facebook page, Mr Robinson said: “I woke this morning with a disturbing report from a local parent, telling me that his 11-year-old child had been targeted by a groomer online.

“He says that the matter’s now in the hands of the police being investigated.

“He’s pleaded with me to alert other parents to the dangers posed online asking that their child’s activity is heavily monitored.”

The Mayor added: “Solid advice.”

The NSPCC have this to say about ‘grooming’ of children online: “Grooming is when someone builds an emotional connection with a child to gain their trust for the purposes of sexual abuse or exploitation.

“Children and young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know - for example a family member, friend or professional.

“Groomers may be male or female. They could be any age.

“Many children and young people don’t understand that they have been groomed, or that what has happened is abuse.”