CHORLEY PERVERT FRANCIS MCGUIGAN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING UNDERAGE GIRL

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers lurking online, a 68-year-old man from Chorley, identified as Francis McGuigan, has been sentenced to over three years in prison for a series of serious sexual offences involving a young girl under the age of 13.

McGuigan, residing on Back Lane in Chorley, appeared before Preston Crown Court in May, where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges. The court subsequently sentenced him to three years and two months behind bars, reflecting the gravity of his actions.

The charges against McGuigan included inciting a girl believed to be just 12 years old to perform a sexual act, as well as making and possessing indecent photographs of a child. The investigation revealed that McGuigan had been actively communicating with the girl through an internet chatroom, under the false impression that she was a young teenager.

During these exchanges, McGuigan encouraged the girl to carry out a sexual act on herself and sent her obscene messages, further demonstrating his predatory intent. Authorities also discovered that he possessed numerous indecent images of children, adding to the severity of his criminal record.

Detective Sergeant Janette Bashall from Chorley CID expressed her satisfaction with the custodial sentence, emphasizing the importance of law enforcement's role in protecting children from online predators. She stated, “I am pleased with the custodial sentence that has been given to McGuigan. We are pleased to have caught him as we cannot say how this situation would have escalated if he was able to carry on speaking to children over the internet. I hope that this serves as a warning to those who try to groom children and teenagers online that there is a chance we are watching you and, if you do commit an offence, you will be caught and put before the courts.”

Lieutenant Superintendent Neil Esseen from Lancashire Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit reaffirmed the force’s commitment to safeguarding children. He said, “We are committed to targeting those who pose a threat to our children and, as a result, we deploy a comprehensive range of tactics to identify and arrest such people. People should be left in no doubt that, if they try to groom children in this way, we will find them and bring them to justice.”

Detective Sergeant Bashall also issued a stark warning to parents, advising them to closely monitor their children’s internet activity. She emphasized the importance of educating young people about the dangers of engaging with strangers online, especially in chatrooms, and urged vigilance to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.