SOUTHPORT MAN MICHAEL LYMATH SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND GROOMING CRIMES

Michael Lymath, a 43-year-old resident of Southport, has admitted to a series of deeply disturbing crimes involving the grooming, sexual exploitation, and abuse of minors. The court described his actions as "every parent's nightmare," highlighting the severity and calculated nature of his offenses.

Investigations revealed that Lymath engaged in online grooming activities targeting children as young as 12 years old. He would often pretend to be a teenager himself, creating a false persona to establish trust and manipulate his victims through social media platforms. His tactics included offering money, making threats, and using emotional coercion to persuade minors to send explicit images and perform sexual acts, both virtually and in real life.

His criminal activities extended beyond online interactions. Lymath traveled across the United Kingdom with the intent of meeting some of his victims in person. This culminated in police executing a raid on his residence in Southport, where authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of evidence. Among the items seized was a notebook titled "long term plans," which contained rules for his victims such as "remember manners," "no self-harming," and "keep room tidy." The police also found zip ties, vapes, sex toys, and a van that he used to facilitate meetings with his victims.

Further examination of his electronic devices revealed a large cache of indecent images—over 1,700 in total—categorized into different levels of severity, including some videos depicting sexual acts involving children. The police also discovered videos of sexual intercourse with minors and a significant number of images that he shared with contacts via WhatsApp. Handwritten notes found during the investigation detailed information about his victims, including their bus routes and school names, indicating a meticulous and premeditated approach to his crimes.

During court proceedings, it was disclosed that Lymath had created a document called "long term plans," which contained specific rules and instructions for his victims. These included maintaining manners, avoiding self-harm, and keeping their rooms tidy. His online interactions involved posing as a young person, sometimes offering money or gifts, and requesting explicit images. One example involved a girl who believed she would be paid for having sex with him, with Lymath sending her videos to reinforce his manipulative tactics.

His grooming extended to multiple victims, including a girl who was persuaded to send explicit images and meet him in person, a girl he drove to remote locations where sexual acts took place, and a boy he forced to perform oral sex on him. He also groomed other victims online, including a 13-year-old girl whom he bribed with Amazon gift cards and another victim with whom he engaged in sexual acts via video calls on Snapchat before arranging an in-person meeting. The court heard that Lymath used threats and emotional manipulation to maintain control over his victims, often coercing them into compliance.

Law enforcement uncovered his extensive collection of illegal images, including 32 prohibited and 13 extreme images. His devices contained videos of children engaged in sexual acts, and he had distributed some of these images to contacts through messaging apps like WhatsApp. The investigation also revealed handwritten notes with details about his victims, such as their school names and bus routes, further illustrating the calculated nature of his offending.

Following his arrest in December, Lymath was remanded in custody. He pleaded guilty to 27 charges, which included the rape of a girl under 13, inciting sexual activity, engaging in sexual communication with children, and possessing indecent images of minors. Authorities also found drugs and an offensive weapon during the search of his property. His defense argued that he was a man of good character who had fallen into unhealthy interests due to loneliness, but the judge condemned his actions as "predatory, manipulative and monstrous."

In sentencing, Lymath received a term of 20 years in prison, with an additional eight years on license. He was also subject to indefinite restraining orders and sexual harm prevention orders. Judge Byrne emphasized that this case was among the most serious he had encountered, citing the extensive premeditation, grooming, emotional manipulation, and the sinister possession of restraints. Police officials praised the investigation for successfully bringing a prolific offender like Lymath to justice, highlighting the importance of their work in protecting vulnerable children from such predatory individuals.