JOHN HARGREAVES FROM LIVINGSTON JAILED IN GLASGOW FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN

In a significant case highlighting the dangers of online predation, John Hargreaves, a 63-year-old resident of Livingston, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after being convicted of serious sexual offences committed in Glasgow. The conviction followed a meticulous investigation by a paedophile hunting group, which successfully lured Hargreaves into a trap at Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow's bustling city centre.

Hargreaves believed he was communicating with two young girls, identified as Holly, aged 12, and her friend Kirsty, aged 13, during conversations that took place over November and December of 2017. Throughout this period, he engaged in a series of messages that included inviting the girls to send photographs of themselves and using sexually explicit language. One particularly disturbing message to Kirsty read, “you’re a good girl Kirsty, and if you’re a good girl I might let you see what I have for you both to play with on Friday night ok xxx.”

Unbeknownst to Hargreaves, his conversations were with members of the Wolf Pack group, a vigilant organization dedicated to catching online predators. The group’s members set a trap for him at Buchanan Bus Station, where he arrived with the apparent intention of meeting the girls. When Hargreaves appeared, he was swiftly apprehended by the group members.

During the trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Hargreaves faced multiple charges under the Sexual Offences Act. These charges included making arrangements to travel with the intent of meeting two minors, Holly and Kirsty, for unlawful sexual activity. Sheriff Ian Fleming sentenced Hargreaves to 15 months in prison and ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years.

Hargreaves attempted to justify his actions by claiming he was aware he was not speaking to actual children. He pointed to a message he sent to Kirsty, which stated, “I don’t know you you are but I have played along for the last few days trying to figure out your scam. You’re not two young girls, your grown men trying to scam people. I have asked you to go on camera and you make excuses or just blank it because you cannot go on camera because you’re grown adults lol so don’t message me again.”

Despite this, he continued to communicate with the supposed girl, asking, “Are you up yet?” the following day. Hargreaves claimed that his use of certain language was intended to deter the girls from continuing contact. In another disturbing message, he told Holly, “Holly you need to learn to trust me and never tell your family about me.”

Prosecutor Mhairi Alexander dismissed Hargreaves’ claims, describing his explanations as “nonsense.” She pointed out that he made no effort to warn the girls about the dangers of online interactions or to suggest he was aware they were minors. Instead, he portrayed himself as a responsible individual seeking to protect children, which the court found to be a blatant falsehood.

Hargreaves also acknowledged that he believed he was talking to children, yet he expressed a desire to meet them in person. On November 10, 2017, he sent a message to Holly stating, “Holly, if you want to be in a relationship with me you must be honest.” Just days before the planned meeting, on November 8, he sent Kirsty a message saying, “you’re a good girl Kirsty, and if you’re a good girl I might let you see what I have for you both to play with on Friday night ok xxx.”

The court heard that Hargreaves was fully aware of the possibility that he might be meeting actual children. The last message from Holly, “Okay, just waiting in the toilet to pee. Are you here,” was met with his response, “yes,” indicating he was outside the girls’ toilets, ready to meet them.

In a related case from January 2019, Hargreaves was again caught by a paedophile hunting team after traveling to Glasgow with the intent to meet two minors he believed he had been communicating with online. The group’s members successfully apprehended him at Buchanan Bus Station, and he was subsequently convicted of similar charges under the Sexual Offences Act. The court deferred sentencing for reports, and Hargreaves remains on bail pending further proceedings.