Blackburn man who drugged and sexually assaulted schoolgirl jailed for 17 years

A 44-year-old man who groomed a schoolgirl on Snapchat before drugging and then engaging her in sexual activity has been jailed for 17 years. 

Gregg Riley (pictured) took naked photographs of his 15-year-old victim while she lay dipping in and out of consciousness in his Blackburn home.

Riley also targeted other girls who attended the same high school in East Lancashire as the victim by paying for their Snapchat Premium subscriptions and asking some for naked photographs or telling them about his sexual fantasies.

On 5^th July 2024 police were contacted by the safeguarding lead at the school who reported concerns for a number of students in year 8 and year 10 regarding a man the students had been in contact with via Snapchat.

The victim was spoken to and outlined how Riley had picked her up, gave her ketamine and while kissing her said: “I only want you. I want you forever.”

While driving her to Blackpool and knowing she was 15-years-old Riley told her: “We are going to move away to Scotland so that we can get married, because you can get married at 16.”

Riley later took her back to his Blackburn home but such was the impact of the ketamine, the victim lost consciousness several times on the journey and to be carried into the house.

It was then that Riley engaged her in sexual activity and took naked images without her knowledge.

The victim later blocked Riley on Snapchat.

Further enquiries found that after buying another victim Snapchat Premium, Riley turned the conversation with her sexual and made comments about her hair and her school uniform.

Riley later asked to meet up with her, said he wanted to have sex with her and that he wanted to hurt her as this was his fantasy. He then went on to talk about necrophilia and doing sexual stuff when she was passed out.

Riley also said that he loved the girl and sent her between £200 and £260 via PayPal.

The victim had sent Riley sexualised images and a video of herself.

Riley bought another girl Snapchat Premium for her 15^th birthday and later told her that he had a dream about her which involved chains and whips.

After his arrest, Riley’s phone was seized and we found 294 indecent images of children and four prohibited images.

Within this download there was a large number of photographs, these included children who Riley did not know and appear to be screenshots taken from social media. Some of the images of children which initially were clothed and everyday images have been doctored using a nudify programme. This uses the initial image taken, taking the face of the person putting this onto a nude body, therefore making the image indecent if the person is under 18.

Riley, previously from Blackburn but now of no fixed address, was charged with causing/ inciting a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, making indecent photographs / pseudo-photographs of a child, possessing a prohibited image of a child.

He pleaded guilty to all the offences when he appeared at Preston Crown Court at a hearing last year.

Riley returned to the same court today (23rd April) where he was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment and given an extended seven-year licence period after being deemed as a dangerous offender by the judge.

He was made subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. A lifetime restraining order was also put in place in relation to Riley contacting his victims.

Det Sgt Stu Peall, from the East Exploitation Team, said: “Riley is a manipulative individual who targeted and groomed his victims for his own sordid sexual interests. He knew exactly how old his victims were and exploited their vulnerabilities for his own ends.

“I welcome the sentence handed down to Riley today which indicates the danger he poses to female children.

“Finally, I want to take this opportunity to praise the victims for the bravery they have shown in speaking up about Riley’s behaviour towards them."