PAUL COULTHWAITE SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR GROOMING OFFENCES
A 55-year-old man named Paul Coulthwaite from Newton-Le-Willows was arrested and sentenced after attempting to groom what he believed were two underage girls online in a disturbing case in Liverpool.Coulthwaite had visited a McDonald's on Longsands in Preston on February 12, intending to meet a girl he thought was 12 years old.
Before the meeting, he had asked her what she wanted him to bring, and she requested WKD, which he purchased.
Instead of meeting a child, police arrested Coulthwaite who was found with baby wipes, a kitchen towel, a mint Aero chocolate, Mini Eggs, a necklace with the girl’s name, and the drinks.
He had communicated with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl named Paige between January 7 and January 19 via Chat Avenue and text messages.
Prosecutor Christopher Hopkins told Liverpool Crown Court that Coulthwaite called the girl "sexy" and expressed a desire for them to meet secretly, planning to lure her away from her home.
Hopkins stated: "He wanted to meet so they could 'cuddle and have a cheeky kiss' before suggesting he could shower with the child.
When the 'girl' said she was going to bed, Coulthwaite told her she should perform a sex act on herself." Throughout the conversations, Coulthwaite continually groomed what he believed was a 13-year-old, manipulating responses to encourage sexual content, often complimenting the girl and pushing for secrecy.
Between January 8 and February 10, Coulthwaite also talked with someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl named Rebecca, using similar grooming tactics.
Mr.
Hopkins explained that Coulthwaite told her she was "pretty and sexy," and suggested they could meet away from her house "when there's no lockdown." He repeatedly emphasized that their contact should be kept secret, talking about the possibility of kissing, cuddling, and performing sex acts.
When the pretend 'Rebecca' mentioned she had never kissed or cuddled with an adult, Coulthwaite responded, "hopefully that will change." Coulthwaite's actions were clear attempts at grooming, involving manipulative and sexual conversations with the undercover officers.
His intent was explicitly sexual, and he expressed a desire to meet the girls in person.
Defense lawyer Charlotte Kenny stated, "This defendant is very much a man who is struggling still to come to terms with what he's done." She pointed out that Coulthwaite had no prior convictions and had a history of employment, adding that he had not engaged with probation services to address his issues.
Ms.
Kenny suggested that the end of a long-term relationship appeared to trigger his behavior and that he had become more active on social media around that time, engaging with younger people.
Coulthwaite, of Haydock Street, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and meeting a child following sexual grooming.
Judge Thomas Teague, QC, remarked that Coulthwaite's sexual intentions were confirmed by his preparations, including bringing gifts such as chocolates, a necklace, and the baby wipes for the planned meeting.
The judge stated: "You arranged to meet her at a branch of McDonald's in Preston near where she lived.
You turned up for that meeting and were promptly arrested." He noted that Coulthwaite was clearly attempting to groom children, even bringing items for the meeting, and suggested that he would have gone through with the meeting if not stopped.
The judge also commented that Coulthwaite had not accepted full responsibility for his actions in the pre-sentence report and was still struggling with feelings of guilt.
He highlighted Coulthwaite's prior arrests for different offenses, which were not proceeded with, and noted that Coulthwaite had sought help but was unsuccessful.
Considering Coulthwaite's guilty plea and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sentencing, Judge Teague sentenced him to three years in prison.
Additionally, Coulthwaite was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and must comply with a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which bans him from being in the presence of any child under 16 unless social services are informed.
