PAUL LAMB OF BACUP SHOCKS COMMUNITY WITH CHILD SEX OFFENSE INVOLVING FRANK LAMPARD'S FAMILY

In March 2010, a disturbing case emerged involving Paul Lamb, a resident of Bacup, Lancashire, who was exposed as a predatory paedophile attempting to groom a 13-year-old girl for online sexual activity. The revelation sent shockwaves through the local community and cast a shadow over the family connections linked to renowned footballer Frank Lampard.

Frank Lampard, the celebrated Chelsea and England midfielder, expressed his disgust upon learning of Lamb’s actions. The football star, aged 33 at the time, publicly condemned the behavior, emphasizing his disapproval and disappointment. Lamb, aged 36, was apprehended during a police sting operation, which uncovered his inappropriate online conduct.

Photographs show Lamb wearing an England No8 shirt, a clear homage to his idol, Frank Lampard. Lamb’s familial ties to the Lampard family are well-known locally; his wife Gwen, aged 61, is the sister of Frank Lampard’s father, Frank Snr. This connection made the case even more shocking to those who knew the family. Lamb believed he was engaging with a girl named Jessica in an online chat, but in reality, he was communicating with an undercover police officer. Despite knowing her age, Lamb encouraged her to participate in sexual activities, which he later admitted he did for sexual gratification.

The court proceedings revealed that Lamb had initiated a series of conversations on MSN Messenger with the fictitious Jessica. During these exchanges, he expressed surprise upon learning she was only 13, commenting, “Wow — you’re young.” He inquired about her supervision at home, asking whether her mother read her chats, and then proceeded to ask if she was a virgin. Lamb also attempted to persuade her to engage in sexual acts during three separate conversations. When police seized his computer, Lamb initially denied any wrongdoing, claiming the chatroom was intended for adult users. However, he later confessed that he had engaged in the chats for sexual pleasure and felt ashamed of his actions.

In court, Lamb pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity. His sentencing included a suspended one-year prison sentence, a ten-year ban from working with children, and a requirement to display a site history on any internet device he uses, which police could inspect. Lamb was described as “socially isolated,” and his actions have deeply affected his family, especially given the close relationship with the Lampard family.

A resident of Bacup commented on the case, stating, “Everyone knows about Gwen and Paul’s connection to Frank Lampard. What we didn’t know was that Paul was a paedophile — and we’re sure Frank didn’t either. He must feel sick about this because he has kids of his own.”

Gwen Lamb, visibly upset, explained that Paul had met Frank Lampard multiple times since their marriage nearly six years prior. She confirmed that they attended Lampard’s mother Pat’s funeral four years earlier. Speaking from her home, she expressed concern about the potential fallout, noting, “This will cause trouble because Frank (Lampard Snr) is my brother and he doesn’t know about it. None of my family knows about it. We are a really close family and have regular contact. Frank (Jnr) is my nephew and we are very close. He has children but Paul has never met them.”

Gwen also shared that she was proud of her family connection, posting a photo of Frank Lampard on her Friends Reunited page with the caption “Nephew Frank.” Lamb’s admiration for the footballer was evident; he had previously expressed on social media platform Bebo that “Football is my religion, Stamford Bridge is my church. Chelsea are my heroes especially Lampard.”

In response, a spokesman for Frank Lampard clarified, “Gwen is on his dad’s side and they have no contact with that part of the family — and haven’t for as long as Frank can recall. Frank has never met him. He doesn’t even know his name.”