British Airways pilot who drove 200 miles in his Mercedes to rape 12-year-old girl after grooming her on social media is jailed for eight years

The ‘despicable’ British Airways pilot, who traveled hundreds of kilometers in his Mercedes to sexually abuse a 12-year-old girl via social media, was sentenced to more than eight years in prison today.

Former England youth basketball player Kwame Yeboah met his victim on the video chat room Omegle, then engaged in a series of explicit messages and phone calls with her via Instagram.

After ’emotionally blackmailing and manipulating’ the teenager, Yeboah persuaded him to travel to Merseyside from his home in Reading, Berkshire, to meet.

The ‘dangerous’ predator then checked into a hotel and then raped the teenager twice in his car.

Yeboah, 30, born in Ghana, admitted three counts of raping a child under the age of 13 and assaulting a child under the age of 13 by penetration.

Appearing via video link from prison, he was given a prison sentence of eight years and four months and given a further year’s licence.

He was sacked by BA as soon as the airline was told of his crimes.

Yeboah’s sickening crimes came to light after the girl’s mother learned from one of her teenage friends that the girl had been talking to a man online, then had sex with him and contacted the police.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today that the man was in his 30s and drove a black Mercedes, and his number was saved under a fake name on his daughter’s phone.

Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, said when interviewed by police later that the girl had acted “initially recklessly”.

However, in the presence of the police, he told his mother: ‘I don’t know why you have to tell the police. It’s not like I wasn’t raped or anything.’

After being told she might need emergency contraception if any sexual activity had taken place, she added: ‘No, I don’t understand. ‘I’ll hold the baby.’

But he later confirmed to detectives that he and Yeboah met about three months ago on Omegle, a website where participants make video calls with randomly selected strangers.

He later followed her on Instagram; They shared sexually explicit images and messages and had more video calls with each other.

Although she initially told Yeboah that she was 17, she later sent him photos of herself in her school uniform and mentioned that she was serious in her communications.

When she told him she couldn’t meet with him upon requests, he responded with emotionally manipulative messages: ‘I can’t do this anymore because you don’t meet me.

Yeboah (pictured) was branded ‘dangerous’ and ‘vile’ by police today as he was jailed for eight years and four months

‘I can’t call because it makes me sad, because I can’t see you.’

After Yeboah left for Merseyside, he climbed out the window of his house to meet her in his car nearby.

He hugged her and the court heard she said to him: ‘You’re so gracious, aren’t you?’

Yeboah then drove them around until she wanted to ‘go to a car park and do something’ and told him she was ‘horny’.

After stopping her vehicle, he touched her sexually before raping her.

Apparently disturbed by another car that pulled up next to them, Yeboah drove to a second location, where he instructed her to have sex with him and raped her a second time.

He later texted the girl after ‘beginning to worry about taking her morning-after pill’ and told her: ‘You lied to me.

‘They would ask you a lot of questions before giving it to you.’

Then he replied: ‘I just don’t want you to be angry with me. I love you. I won’t lie to you.

‘Do not text for a while, social services are at my home.’

The court heard that the schoolgirl’s self-confidence had been ‘damaged’ by the difficulties she had experienced, that she ‘had difficulty sleeping and eating and was constantly on edge’.

He feels ‘guilt, anger, confusion and shame’ and has difficulty focusing on his schoolwork.

Yeboah has no previous convictions.

Richard Pratt KC, defending, told the court: ‘In the victim’s personal statement she speaks of nightmares for which the defendant blames himself for the impact they had on his life.

‘Nothing could be further from the truth.

‘During his time in custody he fully accepted that everything that happened to him, let alone what happened to the woman, was his fault and alone.’

Speaking to the court, Yeboah said he had made a “huge mistake in seeking solace by contacting social media” and acknowledged there were “clear warning signs” that he was under 17.

The court heard that he trained as a first officer at British Airways and that colleagues described him as ‘feeling down-to-earth despite his achievements’.

He is currently involved in basketball as a referee.

Mr Pratt added: ‘It is a matter of great sadness that someone who has achieved so much, not only in his work but also in the love and affection that so many people have for him, could behave in this way.’

Jailing her, Judge Gary Woodhall told Yeboah it was clear the girl was younger than she claimed.

He had sent photos of himself in school uniform, talked about sitting ‘tests’ and chatted about ‘not being allowed to go out and his sexual inexperience’.

‘All these were indicative of his true age,’ he said.

‘You are an old man, a volunteer with children, and a professional.

‘During this communication, sexually explicit photos and videos were shared. There were extremely sexual messages you sent.

‘The language you used was extremely sexualized, referencing explicit sexual acts you wanted to perform.

‘In the context of what you know about the person you are communicating with, I am convinced that there is language designed to emotionally blackmail and manipulate this young girl.’

The judge said the references given on Yeboah’s behalf ‘speak of your positive qualities, strong work ethic, and charitable and voluntary work over many years’.

‘This whole thing is completely inconsistent and out of character with your behavior towards him,’ he added.

Yeboah was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim for 15 years.

He will be required to sign the sex offender registry for life.

Detective Constable Roxana Tusa, of Merseyside Police, later said the case showed their determination to “remove such despicable criminals from society”.

“Our investigation has proven that Yeboah is a dangerous sex offender who will face a significant prison sentence for his heinous crimes,” he added.

‘We hope that the speedy identification and prosecution of Yeboah will at least provide the victim and his family with some comfort in moving forward. I want to thank them for their strength throughout our investigation.’

According to his LinkedIn profile, Yeboah joined BA in 2023. He was dismissed as soon as the allegations were relayed to the airline.

In a statement, the airline said: ‘We are sick and tired of hearing about this individual’s despicable actions and can only imagine the pain he has caused.

‘Our thoughts are and remain with the young man and his family as they try to repair the unimaginable damage and pain they have suffered.’

It is understood Yeboah was fully vetted before joining BA.