MAN PLANNED TO POSE AS 'SCHOOLGIRL'S' GRANDAD DURING SORDID MCDONALD'S MEETING
A man who expressed a desire to see a girl 'in her birthday suit' and planned an inappropriate meeting at McDonald's has been convicted.Harry Croft, aged 61, claimed he would pose as the potential victim’s grandfather if anyone at the location became suspicious during their disturbing online conversations.
Unknown to him, he was actually communicating with an undercover police officer.
The Liverpool Crown Court was informed that Croft initiated contact in November 2022, believing he was talking to a 12-year-old girl on a chatroom.
Prosecutor Carmel Wilde detailed how Croft asked the girl to send pictures of herself wearing a sexy nightdress or her birthday suit.
He expressed concerns about groups trying to trap men like him, admitting he was afraid of being caught.
Despite this, Croft arranged to meet her at a McDonald's in Newton-le-Willows, suggesting they would act as grandfather and granddaughter if anyone got suspicious.
He also told her he had always wanted to experience being with a young girl, noting that their rapport made it only natural for them to try.
Croft was arrested at the meeting spot on December 20, 2023.
During police interviews, he claimed he was on an adults-only website and saw the encounter as a fantasy, intending only to see if anyone would show up for a joke.
He has a prior conviction for two offences.
His solicitor, David Rose, stated that Croft had struggled to accept his guilt but accepted his involvement.
On Friday, Croft pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate sexually with a child and to arranging a child sex offence.
He was sentenced to 30 months in prison, given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and ordered to register as a sex offender for the same duration.
Judge Andrew Menary KC, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, emphasised that prison was inevitable, expressing hope that Croft would refrain from offending again after his release.
