BY SCM STAFF WRITER
A SICK cyber predator who targeted vulnerable children online has been caged for ten years. Twisted David Chellapah, 31, engaged in a “sustained” and relentless grooming campaign against multiple youngsters aged between just 12 and 15 across social media.
But the monster’s reign of terror came to an abrupt end when eagle-eyed detectives intercepted him at a pre-arranged meeting where he planned to abuse a child.
The pervert was cornered and arrested on October 17 last year by the Met’s Central Specialist Crime Command.
A subsequent raid on Chellapah’s home uncovered a digital treasure trove of horror, including a USB stick packed with vile indecent images and videos—some featuring heartbreakingly young children.
Forensic tech experts also discovered that the creep had used coercion and extreme pressure to force his young victims into producing sickening sexual images and videos.
Appearing at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, Chellapah was handed a decade-long prison sentence after previously pleading guilty to 21 horrifying offences, including sexual communication with a child and inciting children into sexual activity.
Detective Constable Alan Stepkowski-Fellows slammed the predator’s “clear and persistent” behavior.
DC Stepkowski-Fellows said: “Chellapah showed clear and persistent predatory behaviour, targeting children online and attempting to escalate that contact into serious harm. Our officers acted quickly to intervene, prevent further offences and bring him before the courts.”
Thanks to airtight digital evidence secured by the Met’s Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (OCSAE) team, the traumatised victims were spared the agony of having to face their abuser in court.
The shocking case comes as Scotland Yard reveals a massive 116 per cent surge in arrests and charges for child sexual exploitation over the past year.
Met bosses credit the spike to a rise in victims finding the courage to come forward, alongside a £10 million upgrade program for state-of-the-art video interview suites designed to support victims through the trauma of investigation.
