ANDREW WILLIAMSON CAUGHT IN HAVANT BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTING TEAM IN SHOCKING ONLINE GROOMING CASE

In November 2018, a disturbing case involving online grooming and predatory behavior came to light in Havant. Andrew Williamson, a resident of Havant, appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates Court to face serious charges related to his attempts to engage in sexual communication with a minor.

According to court records, Williamson was found guilty of attempting to contact what he believed was a young girl through online messaging. The court was informed that Williamson initiated contact with an online profile he thought belonged to a juvenile, and he proceeded to send a series of sexually explicit messages. His intent was clear: to establish a sexual relationship with the child he believed was real. However, it was later revealed that the entire profile was a setup, created by a paedophile hunting team to catch predators attempting to exploit children online.

The team responsible for the sting was known as L&L and Riders Against Paedophiles, who confronted Williamson on behalf of the 'Soloceptors' group. The confrontation led to his arrest in December 2017. The authorities acted swiftly to apprehend him, and he was taken into custody following the online encounter.

During the court proceedings, Williamson was sentenced to three months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for a period of 12 months. In addition to the suspended prison term, he was handed a three-year community order, which includes strict conditions aimed at rehabilitation and monitoring.

Furthermore, Williamson was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of seven years. A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed, lasting for the same duration, to restrict his activities and protect the community. As part of his rehabilitation, he was required to participate in a sex offender treatment program, which was scheduled to last for 29 days.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and community groups to combat online predation and protect vulnerable children from exploitation. The authorities continue to emphasize the importance of vigilance and the role of paedophile hunting teams in catching offenders before they can cause harm.