GRAHAM COLLINSON BRIGHOUSE MAN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN PRESTON

In April 2004, a disturbing case emerged involving Graham Collinson, a man from Brighouse, who was convicted of engaging in unlawful sexual activity with a minor after a series of inappropriate online interactions. The incident unfolded when Collinson, who was on a business trip in Preston, established contact with several young girls through internet chat rooms. Over the course of about a week, he communicated with them, often giving money and purchasing food to gain their trust.

According to court proceedings, Collinson, aged 35 and residing on Wakefield Road in Brighouse, managed a depot for a national security company in Preston. His online conversations included multiple girls, one of whom was only 14 years old. The prosecutor, Katherine Pierpoint, explained that the girls initially engaged in chat sessions in a room that was purportedly for 16 to 18-year-olds, but Collinson’s interactions quickly escalated. He requested to meet the girls in person, and two of them, along with friends, responded to his invitation and traveled to Preston.

During these meetings, Collinson provided money for food, kept in touch via mobile phone and internet, and even gifted one girl a £250 telephone. His interactions with the girls continued, and he eventually arranged to meet the 14-year-old girl alone. She visited his hotel room, where they engaged in kissing and cuddling, culminating in unprotected sexual intercourse on January 23. The girl’s mother discovered the situation and reported it to the police. Collinson initially denied that the girl had told him she was only 14, claiming he was unaware of her true age.

At Preston Crown Court, Collinson pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16. The judge, Stuart Baker, addressed the seriousness of the offense, emphasizing that Collinson’s actions went beyond mere foolishness. The judge stated that Collinson had deliberately sought to gain the girl’s confidence and exploited her vulnerability, which was a grave breach of trust and decency. The court heard that Collinson’s behavior was motivated by a desire to indulge in inappropriate conduct, and he had closed his eyes to her age despite knowing better.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Baker condemned the behavior, highlighting the community’s abhorrence of such acts. He ordered Collinson to be placed on the sex offenders register for a period of ten years and imposed an indefinite ban on working with children. The court’s decision reflects the serious stance taken against individuals who exploit minors and breach societal standards of morality and safety.