WALSALL MAN LEE BOWEN CAUGHT TRYING TO GROOM 13-YEAR-OLD ONLINE IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Walsall, a man named Lee Bowen has been sentenced to prison after attempting to groom a young girl he believed to be just 13 years old through online communications. The incident, which unfolded in early 2018, highlights the dangers of online predators and the importance of vigilant safeguarding measures.

According to court proceedings, Bowen, a 41-year-old factory worker residing on Southbourne Avenue in Walsall, engaged in a month-long online conversation with what he thought was a teenage girl. Unbeknownst to him, the girl was actually a decoy created by the action group Keeping Kids Safe, which aims to expose and prevent online grooming. The group had set up an internet profile under the name Penny, claiming to be from Nottinghamshire and initially stating she was 14 years old. However, the profile clearly indicated that users had to be at least 18 to access the site, raising questions about the platform's safety measures.

Throughout their exchanges, Bowen made comments about Penny’s age, to which she responded that she was actually 13, not 14. He apologized for initiating contact, claiming he was 38 years old, and justified his communication by saying he saw “no harm in chatting.” The court heard that their messaging began on January 3 and continued over the next four to five weeks. While much of their conversation was mundane, there were clear sexual undertones, with some messages explicitly sexual. Notably, Bowen sent a photograph of his private parts to the decoy, further indicating his inappropriate intentions.

During their exchanges, Bowen repeatedly referenced the age difference between himself and Penny. Initially, he stated he would not meet her until she was 17, but the conversation later shifted towards arranging a physical meeting. The plan was to meet at a KFC restaurant for food, but the meeting never took place. Instead, Bowen arranged to meet Penny at the Merry Hill shopping center, specifically at a pub there, on February 11. However, he was intercepted by police officers before he could carry out the meeting and was promptly arrested.

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Spratt emphasized that Bowen was fully aware of Penny’s age and actively encouraged secrecy throughout their interactions. He advised her to delete any images of him and discussed erasing their chat history, indicating a clear intent to conceal his actions. The court found that Bowen’s behavior was indicative of grooming and predatory intent.

Bowen pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a girl under the age of 16 with the purpose of grooming her. In sentencing, the court handed him a 12-month prison term and imposed a sexual harm prevention order that will restrict his activities for the next ten years. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threats posed by online predators and the critical need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.