‘Girls grow up quick around here’: Chilling police confession of a sick online predator

An online predator lured vulnerable girls as young as 12 and threatened to post their nudes because he ‘wanted to get attention’.

Ashley Willats was in his mid-20s when he posed as an 18-year-old on Facebook and targeted Melbourne teenagers including Jodie Mayhew and Jessica Petch, who were just 15 years old at the time. 

When Willats was questioned by police, he bluntly said it was ‘just normal’ for young girls to communicate with strangers online and send nudes.

‘Girls at that age, that’s what they do, you know?’ he told police.

‘I’ve heard stories of younger people doing stuff, you know? And that’s just normal for them. Girls grow up fast.’ 

The British national, who lived in Australia on a permanent visa, blackmailed Ms Mayhew when she said she wanted to cut off contact with him after an eight-month online relationship. 

Ms Mayhew sent Willats nudes two-and-a-half weeks after he added her on Facebook. But he threatened to post them online. 

Speaking to A Current Affair, Ms Mayhew said she had just gone through a bad break up and expressed her sorrows through Facebook posts, only to be added by Willats, whose used a fake online name.

Ms Mayhew didn’t know who he was, but described Willats as ‘quite caring’ and helped her cope with her heartbreak.

‘I thought I was invincible. My parents have always warned me about the dangers on Facebook, on social media. I was 15. I thought I was invincible,’ she said.

‘He made me feel special. I didn’t have many friends growing up. Always bullied. He even told me he wanted to treat me like a princess. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.’ 

Ashley Willats (pictured) was in his mid-20s when he posed as an 18-year-old on Facebook and targeted Melbourne girls like Jodie Mayhew and Jessica Petch at just 15 years old

Ms Mayhew said Willats would sent her pictures of his cat but would often expose himself to her in the background of the images.

He asked to finally meet her in person on New Year’s Day when he saw her location on Snapchat but she refused and he became aggressive.

‘I just didn’t want to. I don’t know why but I just didn’t want to see him at all,’ she said.

When Willats was blocked by Ms Mayhew, he targeted her friend Ms Petch and threatened to post her nudes online.

‘I don’t like when people just ignore me. It makes me feel like nothing you know,’ he said.

‘All I wanted was an answer from her. I wanted to get attention.’

Ms Mayhew (pictured) didn’t know who he was but described Willats as ‘quite caring’ and helped her cope with her heartbreak

Willats contacted Ms Petch in an attempt to get in contact with Ms Mayhew.

‘He then asked if I had experience with boys and he even asked if I was a virgin,’ Ms Petch said.

Willats was arrested in 2015 and admitted to police what he had done was illegal.

‘I can’t deny it. I can’t hide nothing … I have broken the law,’ he said.

In May 2019, he faced Melbourne Country Court along with several female victims who had their matters heard together.

‘He then asked if I had experience with boys and he even asked if I was a virgin,’ Ms Petch (pictured) said

He was bailed but targeted another vulnerable girl, who asked to remain anonymous, and threatened to kill her multiple times.

Willats pleaded guilty to all charges against him as a serious sexual offender.

He was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison with a non parole period of three years and six months.

He could walk free in May 2020 and has had his permanent visa cancelled to be deported back to the UK. 

Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Kahan said Willats is likely to offend again.

‘When you speak to him and you hear him speak about the offences that he committed, it’s like there’s a form of pride in what he’s done,’ Det Sr Sgt Kahan said.

‘There’s just complete admission to the crimes – ”yes, I did them”. And a lot of victim-blaming too, which is really concerning.’ 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk