June 2022 Predatory paedophile from Halton abused young girl over ‘a number of months’ A ‘dangerous and callous’ paedophile who preyed on a 13-year-old girl has been jailed. A sentencing hearing at Leeds Crown Court on Friday, June 17, heard how Lee Kitching, 44, of Halton Moor Road, manipulated a 13-year-old girl into believing she was ‘in love with him’, before taking advantage of her sexually. Kitching began sending inappropriate messages to the child from June 2019, and had encouraged her to send explicit photos before they eventually met at his house on several occasions The court was then told Kirching – who was 41 at the time of the offences – made the girl engage in sexual activity with him six times – with offences taking place between August and October that year. Kitching had pleaded guilty to making an indecent photograph of a child and possessing extreme pornographic images, but not guilty to the counts of sexual activity with a child. Those charges went to trial in May, where he was ultimately convicted. Kitching was sentenced to eight years and six months in jail, and will have to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.