Liverpool man jailed for online grooming and child abuse

LIVERPOOL MAN JAILED FOR ONLINE GROOMING AND CHILD ABUSE

A "calculated and cruel" pervert with a history of child sex offences has been jailed after coercing children into sending indecent photos.

Graham Patterson, 37, created two fake profiles on a social media messaging platform, masquerading as both a male and a female teenager to exploit vulnerable children aged 11-16.

In November 2024, Patterson initiated a conversation with an individual he believed shared a sexual interest in children, during which he boasted about coercing children into sending indecent photos.

On December 11 2024, officers from North West Regional Organised Crime Unit arrested Patterson at his address.

He was found living in his car, where officers discovered multiple electronic devices that had not been disclosed to his sex offender manager, resulting in a further arrest for breaching his release conditions.

Evidence from seized devices showed Patterson had groomed and extorted children aged 11 to 16, often blackmailing victims by threatening to share indecent images with their friends and family unless they complied.

Following an investigation, the CPS charged him with 41 offences, including blackmail, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and distributing indecent images of children.

Patterson was previously jailed for six years in 2016 for similar offences, and received additional sentences in 2021 and 2024.

He pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court on June 10, 2025, and was sentenced to 16 years in prison with an additional five-year license period.