Emily Hedigan, 21, repeatedly sexually abused a young boy in exchange for money to pay off her drug debt. Photos from her social media accounts show her using a Snapchat filter with the word ‘cute’
A woman who carried out vile sexual abuse against a child and shared footage of the attacks has been jailed.
Emily Hedigan, 21, from Bramley, Leeds, filmed herself sexually abusing a young boy after being bribed by her drug dealer to send him photos to pay off her debt. She pleaded guilty to eight offences when she appeared at Leeds Crown Court on February 29. Hedigan’s depraved attacks left the young boy, who was under the age of 13, traumatised. Her crimes were only uncovered when video and pictures of the abuse were found on her phone.
On her social media accounts, however, Hedigan appeared to be like any other normal 21-year-old. In pictures she can be seen posing with a cocktail in her hand, with her friends, or sharing an outfit photo before a night out. Many of the images show her using a Snapchat filter which decorates her face with the word ‘cute’.
In her most recent Instagram post, shared on December 20 2023, Emily posed for a selfie to show off her latest round of lip filler, with the caption: “We loveee a lip top-up”. Other posts show her posing alongside her two sisters with the caption: “Very rare we all get along.”
Hedigan pleaded guilty to eight offences when she appeared at Leeds Crown Court on February 29. Police found she repeatedly incited the young boy to engage in sexual activity, which she filmed. Further work by digital media investigators established that Hedigan had been sending the images to a man elsewhere in the country in exchange for money. She admitted the offences when interviewed – but claimed she had been doing it under duress.
On Thursday, she was sentenced to a total of four years and eight months imprisonment at Leeds Crown Court. She will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life and was also given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Reacting to her sentencing, West Yorkshire Police’s Detective Inspector Amy Spaven, of Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said: “Hedigan was responsible for a sustained pattern of sexual abuse against this vulnerable young boy and shared images of that abuse for financial gain. Her actions will have had a significant traumatic impact on the victim that is likely to affect him for the rest of his life.
“We hope that seeing her held accountable and sent to prison will provide some reassurance. We always treat sexual offences of this nature very seriously and have specialist safeguarding officers who will support victims and their families throughout their investigations and the court process and do everything they can to get justice for them.”
