Facebook Murder...Interview on This Morning

Below is the story of the young teenager, who was raped and murdered through a guy that she met on Facebook. The guy was posing as a teenager, but in actual fact he was a 33 year old phidophile. This article shows the real dangers of social networking and the importance of making kids aware of the risks out there.

Raped and killed by net attacker

Andrea, mum of murdered teen Ashleigh Hall, speaks of her horrific ordeal.

On Monday 8th March Peter Chapman, 33, changed his plea at Teesside Crown Court hours before he was due to go on trial for the murder of seventeen year old Ashleigh Hall.

On 25th October last year, posing as a teenage boy, Chapman coerced Ashleigh into meeting him, before brutally raping and murdering her.

On Monday he was told would serve a minimum of 35 years in prison before being considered for release.

Devastated by her daughter's tragic death, Ashleigh's mum, Andrea, 39, speaks exclusively on the dangers internet grooming, and to warn other parents of the predatory sex-offenders who trawl the internet waiting to find their next young victims.

ASHLEIGH'S RULES

• If ever meeting up with somebody who is alien to you or your friends make sure that you meet them in a group of at least two to three, in public and in a well-lit and populated area.
• Inform somebody of where you are going and what time you should be back; also the name of who you are meeting.
• Don’t accept anyone on social networking sites that you don’t know.
• Remember never to trust anyone who you have met online - you don’t know what they are capable of doing.
• Never tell a stranger on network sites or chat rooms anything personal about yourself, such as where you live, or your date of birth.
• Never meet anyone you don’t know, simple as.

Merseyside Police statement:

Classed as a medium risk, Merseyside Police were required to carry out 6 monthly checks to make sure Peter Chapman resided at his listed address. In January 2009, officers went to visit him regarding a traffic offence but he was not at home and officers spoke to him by telephone. Following subsequent visits, concerns were raised about his location but at that point we were still in telephone contact with him and efforts were made locally to establish his whereabouts.

As a result of being unable to trace Chapman locally, Merseyside Police circulated him nationally in September 2009, as being wanted for failing to notify a change of address.

Article available at: http://www.itv.com/lifestyle/thismorning/reallife/facebookmurder/