German Man Michael Shablinger Jailed for Sexually Grooming and Abusing Girl He Met Online

Michael Shablinger, a 36-year-old German national, has been jailed for sexually grooming and abusing a 13-year-old girl he met online.

Shablinger, who falsely claimed to be 21 years old, befriended the victim on the video game platform Roblox and spent months grooming her before traveling to Norfolk, England, to meet her in person.

The court heard that Shablinger met the victim in a park in Hethersett, where they spent five hours together. A picture of them kissing was later discovered on a secret phone Shablinger had given to the victim.

The victim's mother reported her missing after she failed to return from a walk with a friend. She found her daughter in the park with Shablinger, who left the area immediately upon being confronted.

Upon returning home, the victim initially lied to her mother about what had transpired. However, the mother later discovered the secret phone and saw messages between her daughter and Shablinger, revealing their sexual relationship and his plans to take her out of the country.

Shablinger was arrested at Heathrow Airport as he attempted to flee to Germany. Police seized his phone and found indecent images and videos of both the victim and other unidentified children.

At Norwich Crown Court, Shablinger pleaded guilty to meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual activity with a child, and six offenses of possessing indecent images of children. He was sentenced to an extended eight-and-a-half-year sentence, comprising four and a half years in prison and four years on license.

Recorder Paul Garlick described the case as "very serious" and deemed Shablinger a dangerous offender due to his deliberate targeting and grooming of the young girl. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.