LOUIS SCHON AND HIS SHOCKING CHILD GROOMING PLOTS IN CHESHIRE
A man identified as Louis Schon, aged 36 and residing at Woodridge, Windmill Hill, Runcorn, was ultimately caught and exposed by dedicated paedophile hunters after attempting to engage in online grooming activities targeting what he believed to be an 11-year-old girl.His efforts to manipulate the decoy included a barrage of hundreds of messages exchanged on June 30, 2021, during which Schon also took the disturbing step of sending explicit photographs of himself.
Prosecutor Myles Wilson outlined to Chester Crown Court, sitting within the magistrates’ court division, that Schon’s messages revealed a pattern of explicit and depraved communication, including numerous sexual inquiries.
Schon repeatedly asked the decoy, who was actually an adult decoy posing as an underage girl, about her attire beneath her school uniform and whether she was interested in having sex.
The messages became increasingly explicit, with Schon sending a photograph of his bare chest after she claimed her phone camera was malfunctioning.
The court was told he also expressed flirtatious and suggestive behavior, further indicating his intent.
Not stopping there, Schon requested her phone number and sent more nude images of himself, alongside several attempts to contact her via phone calls.
In the exchanges, he falsely claimed to be in his early twenties and residing nearby.
Throughout, Schon persistently pressed her on the prospect of sexual activity, including trying to incite her to perform a sex act.
The decoy, maintaining a facade of childlike innocence, played along with these disturbing propositions.
The offender explicitly suggested they meet in a hotel, instructing her to look older so he could take her out in person.
He further sent a pornographic video depicting a woman with multiple men, which highlighted his depraved interests.
The messages from Schon numbered in the hundreds, extending into the night and into the following morning.
Following the exchange, Schon sent an apology message the next day and subsequently blocked the decoy’s account.
Despite this, paedophile hunters and the police responded swiftly.
Authorities visited his home address and took steps to locate him when he was reported missing.
Schon was found within 24 hours by police officers, who also discovered a shopping bag containing numerous pairs of children's underwear in his bedroom, raising further concerns.
An examination of his internet browsing history revealed he had viewed images of children’s beachwear, including screenshots of such content—all of which deepened suspicions about his intentions.
During police interviews, Schon refused to comment on the charges, choosing to remain silent.
The investigation’s findings led to formal charges, and on January 4 of the following year, Schon pleaded guilty in Chester Crown Court to multiple serious offences including attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration, attempted sexual communication with a child, and two counts of attempting to cause a minor under 13 to view sexual imagery.
Prosecutors highlighted that Schon’s actions involved grooming behaviors and involved an almost grotesque disparity of age.
Schon’s criminal history was also discussed, revealing previous convictions for offenses related to indecent images of children.
His defense solicitor, Jeremy Rawson, expressed agreement with the prosecution’s suggested sentencing range and did not oppose the proposed Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
Rawson provided mitigating remarks, portraying Schon’s actions as a fleeting 'moment of madness' fueled by alcohol and cocaine, which occurred over a short span and during a single night.
He pointed out that Schon had ended his links with the decoy the very next day.
Further background revealed that Schon lost his employment as a self-employed tiler and had withdrawn from social interactions, becoming a recluse in Runcorn.
He also has not been involved in any other offenses since 2012, and he expressed deep remorse for his behavior.
On sentencing, Judge Michael Leeming labeled Schon as a 'dangerous offender.' He imposed a custodial sentence of five years and three months, with an additional four years under extended licence, totaling nine years and three months in prison.
Schon is expected to serve around two-thirds of his custodial term before being considered for parole.
Additionally, the court placed Schon on the sex offenders register and issued a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order or until further order.
The judge recounted the severity of Schon’s misconduct, emphasizing the sexual and graphic language used during the messages, as well as the physical evidence found in Schon’s bedroom and on his phone.
These findings were compounded by Schon’s prior convictions, which totaled twelve offences across six different cases, alongside breaches of previously imposed orders.
The pre-sentence report painted a largely negative picture of Schon, revealing attempts to minimize his behavior by blaming intoxication.
Nonetheless, Judge Leeming underscored that although Schon had completed the 'Better Lives' program in 2015 and had shown some deterrence, these measures evidently failed to curb his sexual interest in children, as demonstrated by this case.
He concluded that Schon harbored deviant thoughts and that his messages to the decoy marked a significant escalation in the seriousness of his offending behavior.
