MICHAEL HAIR FROM GUISBOROUGH SENTENCED FOR ONLINE GROOMING OF SCHOOLGIRLS IN TEESSIDE

In July 2013, a man named Michael Hair from Guisborough was sentenced to four years in prison after a disturbing case of online grooming involving four schoolgirls. The court heard that Hair, aged 28 at the time, used a false identity under the alias Lee Collins to establish contact with young girls on Facebook. He falsely claimed to be 17 years old, which he used to gain their trust and manipulate them.

His actions once again cast a spotlight on the significant dangers that young girls and women face in the digital world. The case drew parallels to the tragic abduction and murder of Darlington teenager Ashleigh Hall in October 2009 by paedophile Mark Chapman. Chapman, a 32-year-old with a history of sexual violence and currently unemployed, had posed as a charming young man on Facebook to lure Ashleigh, who was 17 at the time. He did not upload a photograph of himself but used the platform relentlessly to contact potential victims.

Prosecutor Christine Egerton revealed that Chapman sent more than 20 messages to a 14-year-old girl, urging her to meet him. In total, the pair exchanged over 730 messages online. Chapman told her he loved her and even expressed a desire to marry her in Mexico. The girl’s elder sister eventually discovered what was happening and contacted the police, leading to Chapman’s arrest. During questioning, Chapman sent a message to the girl, expressing frustration and blame, saying: “Thanks for getting me totally f***ed.”

Further investigations uncovered that Michael Hair had been targeting other girls in the Guisborough area. The court was informed that he had engaged in sexual activity with two of these girls and had bought them gifts such as cigarettes and mobile phone top-ups as part of his manipulative tactics. Hair’s actions prompted concern about the safety of young girls in the community and the importance of vigilance online.

Defence lawyer Paul Cleasby explained that Hair, who was employed at a potash mine, had taken responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty. He stated that Hair was willing to cooperate with the Probation Service and the public protection unit to understand the reasons behind his offending. Cleasby emphasized that Hair was not in denial and was prepared to address his distorted thinking through a treatment program.

Following the sentencing, a spokeswoman for Cleveland Police issued a statement urging parents to be vigilant about their children’s online activities. She emphasized the importance of understanding who their teenagers are communicating with and what sites they are visiting to prevent similar incidents.

Michael Hair was convicted on multiple charges, including three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, one count of attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming, and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The court imposed a lifelong ban on him working with children and a ten-year restriction on unsupervised contact with girls under 16. Additionally, Judge Moorhouse ordered Hair to register as a sex offender for life and remarked, “You have let yourself down.” The judge’s stern words underscored the seriousness of the offences and the need for ongoing public protection.