© Tom Blewitt & Zack Griffiths – Predator Awareness

A former prison officer and Army Cadet Force instructor who sexually abused a 14-year-old girl, resulting in her becoming pregnant, has now been released from prison.

Jake Wharton, a father of two from Eye, near Peterborough, previously worked at HMP Peterborough. He was jailed after being convicted of sexually abusing the teenage girl over a sustained period.

The court heard that Wharton repeatedly abused the 14-year-old at his home and inside his car. He also took photographs of her while she was in a state of undress.

The victim later became pregnant and has since given birth. In a powerful victim impact statement, she said she knows she will one day have to explain to her child “what their dad has done.”

Wharton was convicted of three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15.

The court heard that he first befriended the schoolgirl before grooming her for sexual abuse. He took her to isolated locations in his car and to his home, where the abuse took place.

The offending came to light after concerns about the grooming were reported to police. During interview, Wharton initially denied the allegations. However, after officers informed him they were able to recover deleted images and messages from his mobile phone, he admitted sexually abusing the girl on several occasions.

He was sentenced to four years and eight months’ imprisonment on each of the three counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.

The sentencing court also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order preventing him from contacting either the victim or the child.