ALISTAIR RIGGOTT AND CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN LINCOLNSHIRE AND PORTUGAL
A man from Lincolnshire, Alistair Riggott, aged 53 and residing on Grosvenor Road in Skegness, has been convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for multiple child sex offences.The arrest and subsequent legal proceedings highlight the persistent efforts of law enforcement agencies across borders to combat child exploitation and bring offenders to justice.
Riggott was apprehended in Portugal following a collaborative operation involving Portuguese police forces, Lincolnshire Police's International Unit, and the UK’s National Crime Agency.
The arrest took place after authorities acted on a warrant issued by Boston Magistrate's Court in October 2021, which was issued due to Riggott’s failure to appear in court at the scheduled time.
The warrant underscored the seriousness of the charges against him and marked the beginning of the international pursuit.
The charges brought against Riggott encompassed a broad spectrum of child sexual offences.
These included attempting to coerce a child into viewing images of sexual activity, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual acts, attempting to communicate with a child for sexual purposes, and the creation and possession of indecent images of minors.
Given the gravity of these crimes, police issued a wanted appeal, which prompted an extensive investigation revealing that Riggott might have fled the United Kingdom to evade arrest.
Once investigators established that Riggott could be in Portugal, the Lincolnshire Police International Unit coordinated with local authorities and other law enforcement agencies to locate him.
Following a series of coordinated efforts, officers tracked down Riggott and successfully extradited him back to the UK to face justice.
He was brought before Lincoln Crown Court, where he admitted to the charges on Tuesday, August 9.
In addition to his prison sentence, Riggott will be subject to strict sex offender notification requirements, previously known as being placed on the sex offenders register, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities post-release.
Detective Sergeant Sam Ward commented on the case, stating, “This is another dangerous offender facing a term in prison for what he has done.
Ultimately, our work on this case means that the county is safer today and children are safeguarded as a result.
Our Officers, colleagues in Portugal, and the NCA worked diligently to find Riggott and bring him back to the UK to face justice.
It’s a powerful message that we will not give up the search for any suspect, wherever they may try to hide.”
