LEE PARRY'S SHAMEFUL PREDATION IN MANCHESTER: PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS EXPOSE MAN CONVICTED OF GROOMING GIRLS ONLINE

In February 2020, a disturbing incident unfolded in Manchester involving Lee Parry, a 37-year-old man with a troubling history of sexual offenses. Parry was caught in a shocking online sting where paedophile hunters confronted him after he attempted to groom young girls through social media platforms.

Initially, Parry’s actions came to light when he was exposed by a vigilant online paedophile hunting group. The group had set up fake profiles on Facebook, portraying themselves as 14-year-old girls, to lure potential predators. Parry, who had previously been convicted of molesting a 15-year-old girl during his teenage years, engaged with these fake profiles over several months. During this period, he repeatedly sent explicit images of himself and engaged in sexually charged conversations.

In the exchanges, Parry expressed a desire to meet the fictitious girls in person, offering to buy them gifts, take them to the cinema, and even inviting them for milkshakes. He also referred to the girls as 'cute' and 'sexy,' and explicitly stated his wish to be their 'first.' His messages became increasingly lewd, culminating in him sending images of his erect penis and urging the girls not to accept inappropriate pictures from older men.

One of the profiles was active for over a month, with Parry asking the girl to send him pictures and discussing meeting up in Manchester. The other profile was active for about five months, during which he continued to exchange flirtatious and sexual messages, asking about her day, complimenting her beauty, and offering to buy her things. He also told her not to talk to other boys and to consider him her 'first.'

On April 27, Parry sent explicit images and lewd messages, which marked a significant escalation in his attempts to groom the fictitious children. The investigation into his activities began in earnest when paedophile hunters confronted him at his home in Manchester on June 2. The group’s members arrived to present him with the evidence of his online communications. The confrontation was live-streamed, attracting widespread attention and sparking outrage among local residents in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, many of whom shouted abuse and expressed their disgust at his actions.

During police interviews, Parry claimed that his messages were motivated by a desire to 'protect' young girls from 'weirdos' and insisted he was not a 'nonce.' He argued that he was drunk and lonely at the time, attempting to justify his behavior. Parry also claimed that he believed the girls involved were fictitious and that no real harm had been caused.

At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Parry pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to cause a child to watch images of sexual activity, attempting sexual communication with a child, and attempting to induce a child to engage in sexual activity. Despite his admissions, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. The judge, Tina Landale, acknowledged Parry’s sexual interest in children and his manipulative behavior, noting that he had tried to groom the fictitious girls into meeting him for sexual purposes. The court was told that unless he engaged meaningfully in treatment, further offending was likely.

Judge Landale emphasized that Parry’s actions were serious, and although the children involved were not real, the evidence of his intent was overwhelming. She expressed concern over his apparent lack of remorse and his belief that he had done nothing wrong. The court also ordered Parry to complete 240 hours of unpaid work, imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and mandated that he register as a sex offender for the next ten years.

Parry’s criminal history includes a previous conviction for having sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was just 16. The prosecution highlighted the disturbing pattern of his behavior, which involved manipulative grooming tactics and a clear intent to exploit young girls. His defense attorney, Mark Fireman, argued that the interactions were attempts and that the children involved were fictitious, asserting that the proceedings had severely impacted Parry’s mental health. He described his client as someone who is extremely isolated and anxious to comply with any court orders and seek help for his issues.

In addition to his suspended sentence, Parry was ordered to undertake 240 hours of unpaid community service and to adhere to the conditions of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order, including registering as a sex offender for ten years. The case has once again cast a spotlight on the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilant community and law enforcement efforts to protect vulnerable children from predators like Lee Parry in Manchester and beyond.