LEE HINGSTON FROM GRIMSBY ESCAPES JAIL DUE TO COVID-19 PRISON CONDITIONS
In June 2020, Lee Hingston, a 63-year-old man residing on St Helen's Avenue in Grimsby, was involved in a disturbing incident that led to serious legal consequences.Hingston was found guilty of inciting a teenage girl to engage in sexual activity through messaging, but notably avoided imprisonment due to the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court proceedings, Hingston sent a series of messages to the young girl on April 21 of the previous year.
These messages included requests such as, "Text or send a photo later tonight xxx" and "I’ll look forward to it," indicating an inappropriate and predatory tone.
He further asked her to inform him when she was in her room and inquired if she wanted to send him a photo of herself.
The messages escalated when Hingston explicitly stated, "I would like an intimate photo of you xxx," prompting the girl to ask for clarification about what he meant by 'intimate.' The girl responded by sending a selfie, to which Hingston replied positively, saying, "You look really nice." The girl’s mother became aware of the messages and confronted Hingston, leading to his admission of guilt.
During the investigation, Hingston claimed that his intentions were to call out the girl’s behavior and insisted that she had initiated the contact.
He also stated that he did not want to get the girl into trouble, acknowledging that he was aware his actions were wrong.
Following the police intervention, the girl expressed her distress, saying, "I do get upset about it.
He thought it was all right to blame me.
It’s always in my head going round." Her emotional response highlighted the impact of the incident on her well-being.
Defense lawyer Craig Lowe argued that Hingston’s language was limited and that he had shown remorse for his actions.
Lowe emphasized that Hingston wished to apologize sincerely to the girl and others affected, asserting that this behavior was out of character and unlikely to recur.
Judge John Thackray QC addressed Hingston directly, condemning his conduct as "appalling and disgusting" and criticizing his initial attempt to shift blame onto the victim.
The judge also noted that Hingston had asked the girl to delete the messages, but emphasized the profound upset caused to the girl by his actions.
Despite the severity of the behavior, the judge decided not to send Hingston to prison.
The decision was influenced significantly by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, which had resulted in severe overcrowding and poor conditions within prisons, with inmates sometimes spending up to 23 hours a day confined to their cells.
This unprecedented situation was recognized as a mitigating factor that courts could consider when determining sentencing during the pandemic.
Hingston’s case underscores the serious nature of online grooming and the importance of accountability, even amidst extraordinary circumstances like a global health crisis.
His case remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by such predatory behavior, especially involving vulnerable minors in the community of Grimsby.
