Stephen Lee Hallmark, now 28, was 27 when he met the then 13-year-old woman in Bolton, first by way of Fb in late 2025 after which through Snapchat.
Bolton Crown Court docket heard how, regardless of realizing her age, he went on to sexually abuse the woman, leaving her with lasting trauma.
In a sufferer impression assertion learn in court docket, the woman mentioned: “Since what occurred to me, I really feel like my life has been destroyed.
“I do not suppose I’ll ever totally heal from what occurred.
“I am continually questioning myself and being suffering from flashbacks. I wrestle to do something now with out it continually being on my thoughts.
“I do not like leaving the home with out my mum or dad.
“I hate myself within the mirror or within the bathe as a result of it is a reminder that he is touched my physique, and I additionally wrestle with nightmares and sleeping as a result of I simply can’t cease considering and replaying all the things.
“One of many hardest issues for me has been grieving the individual I assumed Ste was.”
Hallmark groomed the woman on-line over a number of weeks, falsely claiming to be simply 20 whereas he was really 27 and persuading her to inform her household he was solely 15.
When requested in a police interview why he lied about his age, Hallmark mentioned: “I didn’t need her to suppose I used to be an previous b*****d.”
Regardless of realizing the kid’s age, Hallmark organized to fulfill her in individual.
The sexual abuse started once they first met on the woman’s dwelling , and continued throughout three additional conferences.
Hallmark was arrested and interviewed on February 21, 2026.
In the course of the investigation, Hallmark tried to discourage the woman from talking to police, telling her to “go no remark” and threatening to kill himself if she disclosed what had occurred.
In her sufferer impression assertion, the woman mentioned: “Having to understand that it was flawed and that it wasn’t love, simply lies, makes me really feel weak and gullible for believing him.
“Although I do know it, I nonetheless query whether or not he ever liked me.
“He made me consider that I used to be the one one who genuinely cared about him, and he would inform me about how unhealthy his life had been and the way I made it higher and meant all the things to him.
“This made me not wish to say something as a result of I felt like it might make his life worse once more and like I might be hurting him by getting him into hassle.”
She added: “He has taken one thing away from me that I can by no means get again.
“I opened as much as him and was weak with him as a result of I genuinely thought he liked and cared about me.
“I nonetheless wrestle with the truth that I believed his lies, and it is made me query individuals and even myself.
“Even when the case is over, what occurred to me will stick with me for the remainder of my life.”
Introduced earlier than the court docket, Hallmark, of Allington Avenue, Liverpool, confessed to assembly a woman below 16 following grooming.
He additionally admitted to 4 counts of participating in sexual exercise with a baby aged 13 to fifteen.
This week, the Honorary Recorder for Bolton, Decide Nicholas Clarke KC, jailed Hallmark for six years and handed him a 15-year sexual hurt prevention order with a 15-year restraining order.
Hallmark can even be on the intercourse offenders register for all times.
Talking after the listening to, Detective Constable Alex Dibden, of Bolton’s Baby Safety Investigation Unit, mentioned: “I wish to thank the survivor for bravely coming ahead and supporting our investigation.
“She has proven immense braveness all through the investigation and court docket proceedings.
“Stephen Hallmark exploited a baby for his personal sexual gratification after intentionally establishing contact together with her on-line and arranging a sequence of conferences, regardless of realizing she was solely 13 years previous.
“Even after his offending got here to mild, he tried to control {the teenager} and discourage her from talking to police.
“Due to the survivor’s braveness and the proof gathered throughout our investigation, Hallmark has now been held accountable for his actions.
“This case ought to function a reminder to folks and carers to have common conversations with younger individuals about their on-line exercise.
“Offenders can use social media and messaging platforms to construct belief, manipulate kids and organize contact in the actual world.
“When you have issues a few kid’s on-line exercise or consider they could be prone to exploitation, please report it to police.”