JORDAN LANZON SENTENCED IN MANCHESTER FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A man who groomed and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in Manchester has been sentenced to over nine years in prison.Jordan Lanzon, 26, used social media to establish contact with the teenager by creating multiple accounts, falsely claiming he was 17 when he was actually 23.
The pair first met in Manchester city centre in November 2019, where they went to the cinema.
They met again the following month, during which Lanzon told her he had booked a hotel to escape the cold.
It was at this hotel that Lanzon committed the rape, a court previously heard.
Lanzon continued to communicate with the girl after the incident, repeatedly booking hotel rooms and inviting her to join him.
She described feeling scared and pressured into having sex on multiple occasions.
He also pressured her into performing sexual acts over video calls and through texts.
Following a trial in January this year, Lanzon, of Whalley Range, was found guilty of rape and had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and an unrelated assault.
On March 4, Lanzon was sentenced to nine and a half years at Minshull Street Crown Court.
In an emotional victim personal statement, the girl shared her struggles: "I was so scared when I started to talk about what happened to me.
I self-harmed to release my emotions, I struggled to sleep, and I sleep with my light on and my door open because I worry he will come and get me.
I have panic attacks in public feeling like I am being followed by my abuser.
Since speaking out, he has attempted to contact me on social media.
I feel like he won’t let me move on." She further added that since speaking out, she has experienced nightmares, difficulty eating and sleeping, and feels safest only with her parents.
Her mother also provided a statement, saying: "I have never suffered from depression or anxiety, but since this, my anxiety has increased, and I have had many sleepless nights.
It has been distressing to watch my daughter go through the court process.
She has changed since this happened." The court heard how Lanzon exploited and groomed the girl, who was vulnerable and was taken to a hotel where she couldn’t call for help.
The incident was reported to police in April 2020, leading to Lanzon’s arrest.
During police interviews, he initially claimed he did not know the victim, but further evidence from his mobile phone confirmed their relationship, and he later admitted to being in contact with her.
The court also revealed a separate incident from June 2018, where Lanzon entered a couple’s home after they refused a request for a cigarette, then attacked the male occupant with a knife he produced from his waistband.
The male was injured, with a one-inch cut to his eyelid that required suturing.
Lanzon has four previous convictions for other offences.
Lanzon’s defence, represented by Rachel Shenton, claimed that he considered the relationship consensual, although with a minor under the age of consent.
Lanzon, of Stanley Road, Whalley Range, was also noted to be using prescription drugs and cannabis, which he argued contributed to his lifestyle.
Detective Constable Hannah Rudd described Lanzon as a sexual predator who exploited a vulnerable young girl.
She stated, "He left the victim feeling intimidated and scared on multiple occasions and coerced her into sexual acts both in person and over the phone.
We cannot undo the harm caused, but I thank the victim and her family for their cooperation.
I hope the sentence provides some justice and closure." She added, "This type of offending is horrendous, and today’s sentence sends a clear warning that we will pursue and prosecute offenders, whether their crimes occur online or in person.
I urge anyone affected by abuse or exploitation to report it to police or our partners so appropriate action can be taken." Manchester City Council’s Councillor Garry Bridges commented: "This was a horrific crime, and our sympathies go out to the young woman, who was just a child at the time.
We have supported her throughout this process, and this conviction highlights the efforts of Greater Manchester Police and the Council in tackling child sexual exploitation and bringing perpetrators to justice."
