131: Case Studies of Men’s Perceptions of Their Online Sexual Interactions with Young People: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Dr Juliane Kloess (University of Birmingham), Dr Michael Larkin (Aston University), Dr Catherine Hamilton-Giachritsis (University of Bath), and Professor Anthony R. Beech (University of Birmingham) (April 2018)

A summary of the results of a qualitative study examining offender’s experiences of illegal interactions with young people via Internet communication platforms which progressed to physical meetings. Two interviews were conducted with offenders who met the selection criteria of having committed (a) an offence of sexual grooming under Section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Home Office, 2003), or (b) any other offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 that included sexual grooming. The two participants were males in their 30s and 40s. The data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).