Poplar man jailed for five years for online grooming and assault

A man from Poplar has been imprisoned for five years after grooming and sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Kent. Kostyantyn Avdan, aged 30, of Rosefield Gardens, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on October 2. He had been found guilty of several child sexual offences following a trial.

Online Grooming and Meeting

The criminal conduct began in 2021 when Avdan initiated contact with the victim through Snapchat. He was aware of her age, as she disclosed she was 14 years old during their initial conversations. Despite this, Avdan falsely claimed he was 23. Their online exchanges escalated to a sexual nature, with Avdan demanding explicit images. He subsequently arranged to meet the girl in Gravesend on July 31, 2022, travelling from London for the encounter.

During this meeting, Avdan committed the sexual assault before returning to the train station. He continued to send messages to the victim discussing sexual activity after the incident.

Conviction and Sentencing

The offences were reported to the police, leading to Avdan's arrest on June 16, 2023. Investigators examined hundreds of messages exchanged between Avdan and the victim. Avdan, identified as a Ukrainian national, denied the charges but was convicted by a jury. He was found guilty of sexual communication with a child, sexual activity with a child, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. In addition to the prison sentence, he was made subject to a 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Sergeant Alison Elton stated that Avdan deliberately targeted and groomed a vulnerable child for his own sexual gratification, knowing her age. She commended the victim's courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation, noting the profound impact of Avdan's actions.