PAUL HILL FROM LEIGH SENTENCED AFTER SENDING INDECENT IMAGES TO UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICER IN BOLTON

In a disturbing case that unfolded in Bolton, a man from Leigh named Paul Hill was found guilty of engaging in illegal online activities involving a minor. The incident came to light after Hill, aged 55 and residing on Brentwood Grove in Leigh, exchanged explicit messages and images with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl. However, the girl was actually an undercover police officer conducting an operation to catch individuals involved in child exploitation.

According to court proceedings, Hill initiated contact with the girl, who he believed was named Chelsea, through a social media platform and later via Skype, starting in August 2016. During these exchanges, Hill falsely claimed to be 30 years old. Prosecutor Sarah Cook revealed that Hill was made aware multiple times that Chelsea was only 13 years old, yet he continued his communication.

Over the course of three months, Hill sent a total of 14 photographs to Chelsea. These included ten images of adult pornography and four pictures of his own private parts. The messages became increasingly explicit, culminating on October 10, 2016, when Hill asked Chelsea to perform a sexual act on herself. He also urged her to delete messages and photographs to prevent her mother from discovering the exchanges, raising further concerns about his intentions and awareness of the child's age.

Police intervened on November 15, 2016, when officers visited Hill’s home. A search of his computer uncovered a disturbing collection of images, including seven of the most serious Category A indecent images of children, ten Category B images, and 29 in Category C. These findings confirmed the severity of Hill’s possession of illegal material.

During the court hearing, Hill pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images and one count of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. His defense lawyer, Martin Pizzey, emphasized Hill’s previous good character and noted that since the police visit, he has sought counseling to address his behavior. Pizzey described Hill as a man who is very ashamed and embarrassed, struggling to understand his actions.

Judge Timothy Stead sentenced Hill to a three-year community order. As part of his sentence, Hill will be required to attend a sex offenders’ group and participate in 30 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years. A sexual harm prevention order was also issued, prohibiting Hill from having any unauthorized contact with individuals under the age of 18 for the same period. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from predatory behavior.