LEROY SHEEHAN CAUGHT IN CUMBRIA PAEDOPHILE HUNTING STING AT WHITEHAVEN RAILWAY STATION
A man from Cleator Moor in Cumbria, Leroy Sheehan, found himself at the center of a serious criminal case after he arranged to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl for sexual activity.Unbeknownst to him, the individual he was communicating with was not a minor but an adult decoy working with the Online Child Safety Team, a specialized group dedicated to catching online predators.
According to the proceedings at Carlisle Crown Court, Sheehan, aged 42 and residing on Henry Street in Cleator Moor, admitted to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor and to facilitating a child sex offence by planning to meet the decoy girl at Whitehaven railway station.
The court heard that the defendant’s actions were part of a sting operation designed to protect children from online predators.
Prosecutor Tariq Khawam explained that volunteers working with the paedophile hunter group utilize fake online profiles that appear to belong to minors.
These profiles are created to lure adults who seek to exploit children sexually.
In this case, a Facebook profile was set up in July of the previous year, portraying a girl aged 14, complete with a photograph.
On June 13, Sheehan sent a friend request to this profile.
In the messages exchanged, Sheehan disclosed his age and mentioned feeling “low” after recently losing his partner.
The decoy, posing as a 14-year-old girl, expressed sympathy and confirmed her age.
Sheehan then asked to communicate via WhatsApp and, inappropriately, commented that she looked older than 14.
He also requested a topless photo and discussed having sex with her.
Subsequently, the decoy agreed to meet Sheehan at Whitehaven railway station.
When he arrived at the designated location, he was confronted by members of the Online Child Safety Team, including a volunteer and her colleagues.
They promptly made a citizen’s arrest and contacted the police.
The court noted that Sheehan had no prior convictions related to such offences.
During the hearing, Sheehan’s defense lawyer, Tim Evans, stated that although Sheehan did not make any comments during his police interview, he had been honest with probation officers.
A background report revealed that Sheehan had experienced a rapid decline in mental health, including two suicide attempts.
At the time of the offences, he was heavily intoxicated, consuming four liters of vodka daily and up to eight liters of whisky over several days, as he attempted to “drink himself to death.” Evans emphasized that these circumstances, while not excusing his actions, provided context for his disinhibited behavior.
The report also highlighted that Sheehan was grieving the recent death of his partner and was in a “very dark place” when he committed the offences.
It was further noted that Sheehan has a mild intellectual disability, which distinguishes him from the typical predatory online offender often seen in court cases.
Judge Michael Fanning acknowledged Sheehan’s psychological struggles and the recent loss of his partner.
He pointed out that Sheehan’s excessive alcohol consumption likely impaired his judgment but emphasized that Sheehan was 42 years old—three times the age of the girl he believed he was meeting.
The judge stated that Sheehan thought he was engaging with a genuine 14-year-old girl and had the intent to have sex with her, with no evidence suggesting alcohol influenced his decision at the time of the meeting.
Concluding the case, Judge Fanning sentenced Sheehan to two years and eight months in prison.
Additionally, he ordered that Sheehan be placed on the Sex Offender Register for ten years and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration, reflecting the seriousness of his actions and the need for ongoing supervision and protection.
