LEWIS WATTS FROM MELTON SENTENCED IN LEICESTERSHIRE FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AFTER POLICE UNDERCOVER OPERATION

In September 2021, a disturbing case involving a convicted sex offender from Melton, Lewis Watts, came to light following a covert police operation conducted by law enforcement authorities in Leicestershire. Watts, aged 26 at the time, was found to have engaged in illicit online communications with what he believed were underage girls, but in reality, all interactions were with undercover officers from the West Midlands Police. This operation uncovered a pattern of predatory behavior that led to significant legal consequences for Watts.

Watts had a prior criminal record, including a conviction in 2015 for possessing indecent photographs of children, which resulted in a sexual harm prevention order being issued against him. This order was designed to restrict his access to minors and prevent further offenses. Despite this, Watts continued to seek out online interactions with minors, which ultimately led to his arrest in December 2020. During the investigation, Watts used a genuine photograph of himself and provided his real age on his social media account, making it easier for authorities to track him down.

The police operation revealed that Watts had been messaging a person on the Kik social media platform, encouraging sexual activity and requesting explicit images. These messages, which Watts believed were with a 12-year-old girl, were actually exchanged with undercover officers. The police also discovered that Watts had engaged in similar conversations with other accounts operated by officers, indicating a pattern of predatory online behavior.

Watts had previously been prosecuted in 2015 for accessing indecent images of children and had later appeared in court for breaching a court order three times, related to internet contact with a minor under 16. His repeated breaches resulted in a 12-month imprisonment sentence. Despite his criminal history, Watts continued to pursue online interactions with minors, which culminated in his latest offending.

On December 22, 2020, officers from the Leicestershire Police's Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) arrested Watts at Leicester’s Keyham Lane police station. He was subsequently charged with multiple offenses, including three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and breaching his sexual harm prevention order. Watts initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty shortly before his trial at Leicester Crown Court was scheduled to commence.

In June 2021, Watts was sentenced to three years in prison. However, the case drew further attention when the Solicitor General, the Rt Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP, referred Watts’ sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. On September 1, 2021, the Court of Appeal reviewed the case and determined that Watts’ original sentence was insufficient given the severity of his offenses. As a result, his sentence was increased to six years and three months’ imprisonment, reflecting the serious nature of his predatory conduct and the need for a more appropriate punishment.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies in Leicestershire and beyond to combat online child exploitation and ensure that offenders like Lewis Watts are held accountable for their actions. It also underscores the importance of vigilant policing and the use of undercover operations to uncover and prosecute individuals engaged in such heinous crimes.