25-Year-Old Female Shop Worker Jailed For Grooming Teen Girl For Sex After Buying Her Gifts

A shop worker has been reportedly jailed for more than two years after grooming a teenage girl into having sex with her.

Ellee Nicoll is said to have bought the girl presents, given her money, called her "pretty," and complimented her in any other ways before they engaged in sexual intercourse.

The 25-year-old defendant of Swindon, Wiltshire, "cultivated" the relationship with several months of sexting before inviting the girl to watch a film about lesbianism. The court heard that she picked the movie to "normalize" what she wanted.

The truth was only revealed when the young girl's mother became deeply concerned, seeing how close the pair were becoming. Prosecutors confirmed that the mother reportedly talked with her daughter about grooming, which left the girl feeling "sick."

Judge Jason Taylor QC, at Swindon Crown Court, heard the victim had been struggling with her mental health and initially treated the defendant as a "big sister." He told Nicoll she "must have realized" what she was doing, saying, "Alarm bells should have been ringing loud and clear in your mind, but you were seemingly tone deaf." Judge Taylor, sentenced Nicoll to prison immediately at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday.

Prosecutor Andrew Houston also stated that the young girl started sending photos of herself naked and in underwear. The pair continued to develop a "heavy sexual flirtation" and were "touchy feely" with each other.

Nicoll's mother claimed to have warned her to stay away from the schoolgirl; however, the situation worsened when the victim's mother offered Nicoll a place to stay without realizing her daughter was being abused. She permitted the defendant and her daughter to stay in the same bed. Nicoll described it as "the best night of her life", and the victim said she had "no regrets."

Mitigating, Gareth James said the offending was "out of character" and that it has "had a devastating effect on her already." He continues, "She does seem to be a defendant who can properly and accurately be described as a vulnerable defendant herself and perhaps immature." "Given the undoubted effect already upon Miss Nicoll and her concerns for her future problems and the work she has already undertaken on a voluntary basis, [this] demonstrates very clearly there is a significant prospect of rehabilitation."

Nicoll was sentenced to immediate custody after confessing to sexual activity with a child and sexual communication with a child. She was also directed to comply with a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and a restraining order preventing her from contacting the victim.