April 2012 Paedophile jailed for grooming girls A man who sexually groomed vulnerable under-age girls has been jailed. Andrew Duncan Allen, of Holmden Avenue, Wigston, set up an online profile on an internet site to speak to girls online. In November last year, he started exchanging text messages and chatting online with what he believed was a 12-year-old girl – but was, in fact, a Metropolitan Police officer. During these exchanges, 46-year-old Allen suggested he and the “girl” get together for the purpose of sexual intercourse, and arranged to meet her in London on the morning of December 13. He was met by police officers, arrested and charged the following day. As a result of the force’s investigation into Allen, one of his victims, now aged 19, was identified. She was able to provide evidence to officers that Allen had groomed her online, met her and taken her to a London hotel when she was 15. He took indecent images, and they engaged in sexual activity. Forensic examination of Allen’s computer recovered more than 5,000 individual chat logs dating back to 2006. The majority appeared to be with young girls – some as young as 10. Allen, a supermarket home delivery worker, pleaded guilty to five charges – travelling to meet a child following sexual grooming, distribution of indecent images of children, possession of indecent images of children, attempting to cause a child to view a sexual act and sexual activity with a child. He was jailed for four years and eight months at Southwark Crown Court. Acting Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, from the Metropolitan Police’s paedophile unit, said: “Allen’s arrest and conviction demonstrates our total commitment to targeting the most dangerous offenders both on and offline. “I believe Allen has committed further crimes and I would urge anyone who believes they may have been a victim to report the incident to police.” The investigation team can be contacted direct on 020 7161 3871 . Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Childline on 0800 1111 .
