Pai usa software espião para descobrir namoro secreto da filha
Descoberta levou homem de 38 anos à prisão, na Inglaterra.
Acusado tinha assinado termo para ficar longe da garota de 15 anos.
Um britânico de 38 anos foi condenado a quatro anos e meio de prisão na Inglaterra, no final de agosto, por manter um relacionamento com uma garota de 15 anos. A relação entre os dois foi descoberta depois que o pai da adolescente tomou uma atitude considerada polêmica: instalou um software espião no computador usado pela jovem, para monitorar sua navegação e conversas no ambiente virtual.
Segundo o site “The Register”, Nicholas Lovell foi técnico de hóquei da adolescente em 2006. O relacionamento entre os dois causou preocupação entre os familiares e Lovell concordou em assinar um termo na policia, segundo o qual se comprometia em ficar longe da garota. O técnico mora em Guildford (Surrey, Inglaterra), e a jovem não teve seu nome divulgado por ser menor de idade.
Apesar do termo, os pais da adolescente continuaram preocupados quando a filha se afastou e começou a mentir, diz o “Register”. Foi então que decidiram instalar o software espião no computador usando em casa, que monitorou e-mails e conversas instantâneas entre a garota e Lovell. Essas informações foram usadas como evidência de que o treinador não estava cumprindo o acordo que determinava distância da jovem.
O homem foi acusado pelo tribunal de Reading Crown de manter relações sexuais com uma menor de idade, mas negou as acusações. Segundo um jornal local, que acompanhou o caso, o treinador tentou colocar a culpa de seus atos na adolescente.
Esse mesmo jornal, citado pelo “Register”, entrevistou o pai da garota, que também não teve seu nome divulgado. “Antes disso acontecer, ela me contava tudo. Mas então se afastou e começou a dizer que estaria em lugares onde na verdade não estava”, disse.
Parents plant spyware to snare sex predator
Court sin-bins ice hockey coach
A 38-year-old Briton has been jailed for an underage sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl after her father uncovered evidence by planting monitoring software on her PC.
Nicholas Lovell, from Guildford, Surrey, coached the teenager while working as an ice hockey teacher in 2006. The relationship between the two raised earlier concerns and Lovell agreed to sign an agreement with police preventing him from contacting the girl, whose identity is being withheld.
The girl's parents remained concerned, especially when she became more withdrawn and started to lie about her movements, leading them into deciding to install a monitoring program called WebWatcher on her computer. The software recorded email and IM conversations between Lovell and the girl, providing enough evidence for police to arrest Lovell for breaking his agreement to stay away from the youngster.
Lovell stood trial on child abuse offences at Reading Crown Court. He denied the offences but a jury found him guilty on five counts of sexual activity with a child, leading to a four-and-a-half-year sentence, according to local reports. The girl has undergone counselling. After initial anger with her parents over their actions, she now accepts that they acted in her best interests. ®
By Lorna Catling
Nicholas Lovell
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A concerned dad has defended his decision to spy on his teenage daughter’s emails after his actions led to the conviction of the older man she was dating.
The man installed spy software on his daughter’s computer after his usually “open” daughter became secretive and withdrawn.
As a result, ice hockey coach Nicholas Lovell, 38, was convicted for five charges of sexual activity with a child.
Lovell was jailed for four-and-a-half-years for having under-aged sex with the 15-year-old who he met while working as an ice-hockey teacher in 2006.
The teenage girl’s dad, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his daughter, said: “Before it started she used to tell me everything.
“But then she started saying she would be in places when she wasn’t and became very withdrawn.
“It came to a head one day when she had said she was with a friend and then we bumped into that friend in town without my daughter.”
Police warned Lovell, from Guildford, Surrey, to stay away from the girl and he signed an agreement to that effect.
But, her concerned parents installed WebWatcher software on her computer anyway.
Emails and messaging between the girl and Lovell were recorded and passed on to police who then arrested Lovell.
The dad added: “I did worry about doing it and, immediately after it came out, she did go mad at me.
“But after counselling, she realised we were doing it to keep her safe and now I have it on all my children’s computers.
“I would recommend it to any other parent without a shadow of a doubt.
“Our relationship is even stronger than ever, it has improved the trust between us.”
After the sentencing at Reading Crown Court on Friday, August 29, Det Con Paul Kerr, of the child abuse investigation unit, said: “Lovell maintained a not-guilty plea throughout the trial and tried to place the blame on the victim.
“He should have known better but chose to make his victim go through a trial, with the trauma that it caused, rather than admit to his crimes.
“He is now beginning a lengthy period of incarceration for his crimes against a vulnerable young girl.
“He made choices about his behaviour and must now face up to the repercussions.”
