SHEFFIELD PREDATOR MICHAEL LOXLEY SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEENAGE GIRLS IN SHEFFIELD AND HULL

In October 2006, a disturbing case emerged involving Michael Loxley, a 52-year-old lorry driver from Sheffield, who was convicted of grooming and sexually abusing two teenage girls aged 14. The crimes, which spanned across different locations, highlighted the dangers posed by online predators and the vulnerabilities of young victims.

Michael Loxley's criminal activities came to light after he engaged in a series of manipulative and predatory behaviors, targeting the girls through text messaging and internet dating platforms. The court heard that Loxley, residing on Valentine Crescent in the Shiregreen area of Sheffield, used these digital avenues to establish contact with his victims, both of whom falsely claimed to be 16 years old. His grooming tactics involved persistent messaging and attempts to build emotional bonds, which ultimately led to sexual encounters.

One of the victims was from Epsom, Surrey, where Loxley traveled by lorry to meet her in person. During these clandestine meetings, he touched her and forced her to fondle him, although he was unsuccessful in his attempts to have sex with her. The girl confided in a counselor about the abuse, which prompted her to report the incident to the police. The authorities responded swiftly, arresting Loxley and seizing his mobile phone, where they discovered numerous messages he had sent to the second victim, a girl from Hull.

The second girl, who was only 14, had been groomed by Loxley over a period of six months. Police investigations revealed that he had been molesting her and maintaining contact through online chatrooms and messaging services. Despite both girls claiming to be 16 on the dating sites, Loxley admitted to police that he was aware the Hull girl was only 14 before engaging in sexual activity with her. He further revealed that this did not deter him because he believed there was already a bond between them.

In an attempt to manipulate the victims further, Loxley sent messages pretending to be his brother, David, claiming that he was in hospital after an overdose, in a bid to rekindle contact. His pattern of behavior was not new; he had a long history of sex offenses dating back to the 1960s. Notably, he had served three years in prison for rape in 1974 and another year for gross indecency with a child in 1987.

Following a trial at Guildford Crown Court in Surrey, Loxley was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child. He had also previously pleaded guilty to three similar charges related to the second victim during a hearing at Hull Crown Court in May. The court sentenced him to a minimum of two years in prison under new legislation aimed at protecting the public from sex offenders. However, the judge, Derek Inman, clarified that the parole board would decide how long Loxley would remain incarcerated beyond that minimum period, based on his behavior and risk assessment.

Judge Inman emphasized the pattern of Loxley's offending, noting that his method involved meeting teenage girls via the internet and engaging in various forms of sexual activity. The judge's comments underscored the seriousness of the crimes and the need for continued detention to protect society from further harm.