PAUL LAWRENCE OF HOLMFIRT JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST SCHOOLGIRL IN LIVERPOOL

In January 2020, Paul Lawrence, previously convicted for sexual offences involving a schoolgirl, was sentenced to additional prison time after being found guilty of raping the same victim. Lawrence, who had already served time for molesting and grooming a vulnerable girl, was caught in 2017 with a girl while wearing only a dressing gown, with a condom and tissues in his pockets, following months of grooming and sexual abuse.

Lawrence, formerly of Whitegate Road, Holmfirth, was initially sentenced to six years and nine months after admitting to multiple sexual offences with a minor. In early 2020, he received a further sentence of seven years and nine months, which will run consecutively, after the victim came forward with new allegations of rape.

The incident dating back to September 2017 saw Liverpool Crown Court hear that Lawrence, a 56-year-old man from Southport, had groomed and repeatedly molested a young girl, taking sexually explicit photographs of her. The court was told Lawrence showered her with expensive gifts, further manipulating her vulnerability.

The girl’s mother became suspicious when she discovered messages from Lawrence on her daughter’s phone inviting her to 'come and play.' When police raided Lawrence’s home, they found him with the girl, dressed only in a dressing gown and slippers, with a condom and tissues in his pocket.

Prosecutor Robert Dudley explained that the girl later fell pregnant and had a termination via the morning-after pill, though there was no evidence Lawrence was responsible for her pregnancy. The victim’s mother also found a lewd text message on her daughter’s iPad from Lawrence, encouraging her to dress sexually.

Lawrence admitted sending the inappropriate message, and police seized his phone along with the girl’s devices. During police interviews, Lawrence could not explain his actions and denied wrongdoing. Photos stored on the girl’s phone showed him abusing her, but she refused to cooperate further with authorities.

Lawrence pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, as well as two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child.

Judge Thomas Teague, QC, stated that Lawrence was aware of his victim’s vulnerability but exploited it nonetheless. He emphasized that Lawrence bought gifts and engaged in grooming and noted the significant impact his abuse had on the girl.

The judge highlighted the premeditated nature of the offences, including the recording of images and targeting a particularly vulnerable child, with a stark age disparity. Lawrence showed no emotion as he was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison, and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and abide by a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.