ALAN VALENTINE FROM WHITEFIELD CAUGHT TRYING TO MEET 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL AT BOLTON TRAIN STATION

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing dangers of online grooming, Alan Valentine, a man from Whitefield, was caught attempting to meet a girl he believed to be only 13 years old at Bolton train station. The incident unfolded after a series of calculated online interactions that spanned over ten days, during which Valentine believed he was communicating with a teenage girl named Freya on a chat room dedicated to young people.

Prosecutor Nicola Carroll outlined the details in Bolton Crown Court, revealing that Valentine, aged 45, had recently been released from prison in May for a similar offence. Despite his previous conviction, he resumed his predatory behavior by returning to the Chat Avenue website, where he created a new profile posing as a 19-year-old man. His goal was to establish trust with the fictional 13-year-old girl and persuade her to move their conversation to a more private platform, Kik.

The conversations quickly turned sexualized, with Valentine asking the girl for kisses and cuddles, and eventually discussing the possibility of meeting in person. The court heard that he explicitly inquired about her losing her virginity and told her he would teach her how it was done. On August 10, Valentine suggested they could meet either in a park or at a hotel, promising to book the best accommodation available and even asking her to bring her school uniform. He reassured her not to be nervous, and they arranged to meet at Bolton train station, with Valentine sending her a timetable to confirm the meeting.

When Valentine arrived at the station at the agreed time, police officers approached him. During the arrest, they found three condoms in his pocket, indicating his intentions. Further investigation revealed that he had booked a room at the Britannia Bolton hotel, where he planned to meet the girl. Despite denying any communication with the girl during police interviews and maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings, Valentine eventually pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

It was also revealed that Valentine had previously been sentenced to 15 months in prison in July of the previous year for a very similar offence. The court heard that he had not learned from his past mistakes. Recorder Jeremy Lasker sentenced Valentine to 27 months in prison and imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. The judge expressed serious concern about Valentine’s lack of remorse and the potential danger he posed, stating, “Had that been a real little girl this would have ended with you having significant sexual activity with her. There’s not a lot to convince me if you find a real child that child will be in danger.”