PERVERT WHO TURNED UP HOPING TO MEET 14-YEAR-OLD FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY CONFRONTED BY VIGILANTES
A man identified as Liam Williamson has been sentenced to 13 months in prison after attempting to meet a schoolgirl for sexual activity.Williamson, 28, of Langley Avenue, Blyth, Northumberland, engaged in sexual conversations with a profile named Laurie on the Skout dating app, which was actually operated by the vigilante group Guardians of the North.
They had been monitoring the account and contacted police before Williamson arrived at the meeting spot.
The 'Laurie' profile falsely claimed she was 14, despite advertising herself as 18.
Prosecutor Omar Ahmad explained that Williamson contacted the profile in May 2019, and their conversations later moved to WhatsApp.
Ahmad stated: "The defendant, on multiple occasions, suggested to Laurie she should come to his house in Blyth, telling her to take the bus and promising to meet her at the bus stop.
He even sent her a picture of bus times." Williamson was aware she was underage and expressed concern about legal repercussions, saying, "I would not touch you unless you wanted to be touched." He also said, "I could show you how to touch yourself but don't tell your mum or anyone, okay?" Additionally, he asked her to send pictures of herself in a bra and knickers, and of her genitals, before arranging to meet her.
When police arrested him, Williamson claimed he would not have touched her unless she wanted him to.
Despite his lack of prior convictions, he was sentenced to 13 months in prison at Newcastle Crown Court for attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming.
He will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.
Defense lawyer Peter Schofield described Williamson as vulnerable, noting he had an appropriate adult present during police interviews.
Schofield added, "When he became involved in this offending, he was at an all-time low and had recently lost his job.
He worked for two and a half years in a hotel and is not unwilling to work.
He was isolated, and the reality is that he let the situation spiral out of control when he should have known better, as an adult." He also expressed concern about Williamson's mental state, saying, "Custody fills him with dread; he is very worried about the impact it will have on him.
He will be vulnerable in custody."
