14 Year-old Speaks Out about the Danger of Internet Creepers, Grateful for Moms Involvement

If you've ever second guessed your parental instinct to snoop in your kids' internet conversations or text messages, and felt you should "trust your kids more," consider the good fortune of Amy, a 14-year-old from the UK, who is very thankful for her "nosy mum."

As reported by the Dorset Echo, 20-year-old  Oliver Randall first made contact with Amy through an unspecified social networking site when she was just 12 years old. In order to protect other kids, the brave teenager is now speaking out about what happened next.

Amy said her conversations with Randall started innocently enough: "He asked me my age and we began to chat about all sorts of things from music to things we liked and disliked." Randall, who always seemed respectful and polite, told Amy he was 18, but no alarms sounded. "...I felt comfortable talking to him because he was older and wise," she said.

Feeling a little too carefree in her new internet friendship, Amy made a big error in judgment: "He asked me where I lived and I know it was a mistake to tell him, but the general conversation seemed okay so I wasn't worried," she said. The tone of the conversations then abruptly shifted: "It suddenly got quite scary as he started making sexual references which wasn't very nice." Randall began harassing Amy with sexual questions and advances. One day, while using an instant messenger, Amy accidently sent Randall her cell phone number, which she was trying to send to a friend. Text messages with a similarly ominous feel soon began flooding Amy's phone, some even trying to get her to meet him.

Enter Kathy, Amy's self-proclaimed "strict" mother. Kathy discovered the lewd text messages and "was in utter shock." "Realizing the seriousness of the situation, I immediately called the police," Kathy recalled. Oliver Randall was arrested, and admitted to 23 charges, including engaging a child under 13 in sexual activity and inciting a girl under 13 in sexual activity. Sadly it was found that up to 40 girls may have been his victims. "Amy was incredibly lucky, because she was probably 24 hours away from being raped," said her relieved mother. A grateful Amy added: "Obviously I'm glad it didn't happen to me, but I was lucky because my mum found out what was going on. My nosy mum literally saved me from being hurt."

Parents, we're here to help keep our children safe. I encourage all of us parents to have an open and consistent dialogue with our children first and foremost. But as research shows, and as we know, kids aren't always able to make the best decisions for themselves. It is with our guidance, love, protection and maybe occasional nosiness, that we can best protect our children.

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