HALEWOOD MAN LEE GALLAGHER CAUGHT IN SEXUAL ONLINE PLOT AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online predators, Lee Gallagher, a 44-year-old resident of Halewood, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving the attempted exploitation of a minor. The incident unfolded after Gallagher engaged in a series of inappropriate and illegal communications with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl named Jessie, but in reality, Jessie was a fictitious persona created by Dark Justice, an online watchdog group dedicated to exposing paedophiles.

According to reports, Gallagher responded to an online message from the fake profile, which was part of an undercover operation. He proceeded to send explicit images and messages, including a selfie of his genitals, and even requested the girl to perform a sexual act. The group Dark Justice had set up the profile to lure potential offenders and gather evidence for law enforcement authorities.

Police were alerted after the group provided the information to the National Crime Agency. The authorities acted swiftly, arresting Gallagher as he arrived at Manchester Airport from Spain last May. During a search of his mobile device, officers discovered indecent images of a child, further implicating him in the criminal activity.

At Liverpool Crown Court, prosecutor Kate Gaskell detailed the extent of Gallagher’s misconduct. She revealed that Gallagher had sent a video of himself performing a sexual act and asked the fictitious girl to engage in sexual activity. The court was told that Gallagher was working in Spain at the time of these offenses, which added an international dimension to the case.

Gallagher later pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to cause a female under 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child, encouraging a child to watch images of a sexual nature, and possessing indecent images of a child. The judge, Mr. Justice Anil Murray, addressed Gallagher’s actions directly, condemning his response to the fake profile with the word ‘gusto’ and stating, “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Despite the gravity of his crimes, Gallagher received a sentence of ten months’ imprisonment, which was suspended for two years. The judge emphasized that if the victim had been real, Gallagher would have faced a lengthy prison term. The court also considered the support Gallagher had from his partner and a letter from his general practitioner, which were presented as mitigating factors.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Gallagher was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service, register as a sex offender, and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was also required to pay court costs as part of his sentence, underscoring the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing efforts to protect children from online predators.