GEORGE FAIRHURST FROM PREESALL AND CLEVELEYS JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF SCHOOLGIRL

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Preesall and Cleveleys, pensioner George Fairhurst has been sentenced to over four years in prison for the sexual abuse of a vulnerable 15-year-old girl. The incident came to light after Fairhurst, a 65-year-old man, believed he was in a romantic relationship with his young victim and engaged in regular meetings and text exchanges with her.

Preston Crown Court heard that the abuse was uncovered when Fairhurst asked his granddaughter to obtain the girl’s contact details via Facebook. This request raised suspicion and ultimately led to police involvement. Fairhurst, who is married and resides on North Drive in Cleveleys but is originally from Preesall, was found guilty of nine counts of sexual activity with a minor and three counts of taking indecent photographs.

The prosecution, led by Paul Cummings, emphasized the girl’s vulnerability, which made her an easy target for Fairhurst’s predatory behavior. The court was also informed that concerns had been raised earlier when Fairhurst was seen handing cigarettes to the girl, an act that her father explicitly warned him against. These incidents prompted police to arrest Fairhurst, during which he claimed he had met the girl while out walking his dog. He admitted that they had continued to meet regularly afterward.

Initially, Fairhurst told authorities he believed the girl was 16 years old, and he was aware she was still attending school. However, the court was informed that Fairhurst had a history of sexual offences, which added to the severity of his sentencing. His defense lawyer, Chris Hudson, argued that Fairhurst was a naive man who was unaware of the girl’s true age at the outset.

As part of his sentence, Fairhurst was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was placed under a sexual offences prevention order for ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the potential risk he poses to the community.