PAUL CATON FROM FARNWORTH SENTENCED FOR GROOMING SCHOOLGIRL IN BOLTON AND BRIGHTON

In December 2015, a disturbing case emerged involving a young girl who was groomed online by a man from Farnworth, leading to serious concerns about her mental health and safety. The girl, only 13 years old at the time, was targeted through Facebook by Paul Caton, a man who used the internet to manipulate and exploit her over a period of twelve months.

Caton, who posed as an 18-year-old woman named Jade, created a false online persona by using an image of a woman as his profile picture. He befriended the girl from Brighton, claiming to be someone who understood her past experiences of being treated badly by others. During their online interactions, Caton promised to support her and offered a false sense of companionship.

As their communication progressed, Caton gradually coerced the girl into sending sexually explicit images of herself. When she expressed a desire to stop sharing these images, he threatened to publish the previously sent photographs online, effectively coercing her into continued compliance. This manipulation was part of a broader grooming campaign that lasted for a year, during which Caton also made disturbing offers, including suggesting he could pick her up from school and take her to a hotel where they could sleep together in a large bed.

The girl, feeling increasingly distressed, confided in someone about the offers before any arrangements could be made. This prompted an investigation by the police. Authorities examined her mobile phones, discovering the exchanged images and evidence of online offers to meet in Worthing or Brighton. The investigation traced the IP address used to send the messages back to Caton’s residence in Glenbrook Gardens, Farnworth.

In March of the following year, police arrested Caton in front of his partner and four-year-old son. During the search, they seized his laptop and mobile devices, which contained hundreds of indecent images of children and extreme pornography involving animals. The evidence was damning and highlighted the extent of his offending.

Meanwhile, the girl’s social worker provided a victim impact statement to the court, revealing that she was considered to be at “high risk of suicide.” The statement detailed her recent behaviors, including walking along railway tracks and traveling to railway stations with the intent of ending her life. She had been sectioned and admitted to a mental health hospital. The social worker explained that she had been exploring websites related to suicide and eating disorders, indicating her ongoing mental health struggles.

At the time of the court hearing, the girl was 16 years old and was described as having “multiple complex behavioural needs,” which had been exacerbated by Caton’s actions. The court was told that her mental health had been severely impacted by the grooming and exploitation she endured.

Judge Peter Atherton addressed Paul Caton directly, condemning his calculated actions. He pointed out that Caton had planned his offenses carefully, lied about his age and gender, and used threats to manipulate the girl into sending explicit images. The judge emphasized that her high risk of suicide was a direct consequence of Caton’s conduct and that his actions had significantly contributed to her distress.

Caton, who pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images of a child, possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals, and possessing indecent images of children, was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.