PAUL SPENCE FROM NEW MOSTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AFTER REPEATED MESSAGES TO UNDERAGE GIRLS
| Red Rose Database
New Moston Child Sexual Abuser
In May 2019, a disturbing case involving Paul Spence, a resident of New Moston, Manchester, came to light through the efforts of vigilant paedo hunters. Spence, a father of three, had previously avoided imprisonment after attempting to meet young girls for sexual activity. However, his actions did not cease, and he was ultimately sentenced to three years in prison following his repeated attempts to contact minors online.
Spence was initially caught by a group known as the Child Online Safety Team (COST), who conducted a citizen's arrest after he sent explicit WhatsApp messages to an investigator posing as an 11-year-old girl. Despite being detained, he was released under investigation after claiming that his messages were intended as a joke. This initial encounter raised serious concerns about his intentions and behavior.
Seven months later, the same group identified Spence once again when he began communicating with another investigator, this time pretending to be a 12-year-old girl. During this second series of exchanges, Spence made highly inappropriate and explicit comments, including questions such as, 'Have you ever kissed anybody? I could teach you how to kiss. Do you want me to wash your back? Do you want me to see your breasts?' These messages further confirmed his predatory intent.
Spence's troubling online activity first drew police attention in November 2017. He had logged onto the social media platform Qeep, believing he was communicating with an 11-year-old girl. Prosecutor Jonathan Savage detailed the nature of his interactions, revealing that Spence encouraged the 'girl' to send explicit photographs, warned her not to tell anyone, and issued threats, saying, 'If you loved me you'd send pictures.'
During the initial contact, Spence asked, 'Do you like older men?' to which the girl responded, 'I don't know, I'm only 11.' He then made inappropriate comments about her physical appearance, saying, 'You've got good t**s for 11.' The conversation shifted to WhatsApp, where he asked if she wanted him to be her secret boyfriend and made further sexual remarks, including, 'If you were older you would want me to f*** you.' He also requested a photograph of her and suggested that any messages exchanged be deleted, explicitly asking for 'your young t**s.'
Although the paedophile hunters were unable to locate Spence at that time, he continued his offending behavior the following year. He unwittingly engaged with another investigator posing as a 12-year-old girl, during which he expressed regret that she was not old enough to join him in the bath. Additionally, he contacted a third decoy through social media, asking her to send a picture and describing her as 'hot for 14,' even suggesting they meet for sex.
In October of the following year, the group managed to track Spence's location and contacted emergency services. They called 999 and confronted him at his residence in New Moston. During the confrontation, Spence protested, claiming, 'This is against my rights.' He was taken into police custody but was released pending further investigation.
The group resumed their investigation in March of this year after establishing contact with a fourth decoy. Spence claimed he had destroyed the SIM card on his mobile phone, but police re-arrested him and subsequently charged him with multiple offenses.
During the court proceedings, Spence's defense lawyer, Shirlie Duckworth, acknowledged that her client had a sexual interest in children of an early age. However, Judge David Stockdale QC emphasized the severity of his repeated offending. He stated, 'The ages of the decoy profile girls ranged from 11 – 14 years, and it is a feature of the case that even when you knew the matter was under investigation by the police, your attempts to pursue young girls continued.'
Judge Stockdale further noted that Spence's actions spanned a lengthy period, demonstrating a pattern of predatory behavior. Ultimately, Spence pleaded guilty to 12 charges, including attempts to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He was sentenced to three years in prison at Manchester Crown Court and was ordered to comply with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to prevent further offenses.
Spence was initially caught by a group known as the Child Online Safety Team (COST), who conducted a citizen's arrest after he sent explicit WhatsApp messages to an investigator posing as an 11-year-old girl. Despite being detained, he was released under investigation after claiming that his messages were intended as a joke. This initial encounter raised serious concerns about his intentions and behavior.
Seven months later, the same group identified Spence once again when he began communicating with another investigator, this time pretending to be a 12-year-old girl. During this second series of exchanges, Spence made highly inappropriate and explicit comments, including questions such as, 'Have you ever kissed anybody? I could teach you how to kiss. Do you want me to wash your back? Do you want me to see your breasts?' These messages further confirmed his predatory intent.
Spence's troubling online activity first drew police attention in November 2017. He had logged onto the social media platform Qeep, believing he was communicating with an 11-year-old girl. Prosecutor Jonathan Savage detailed the nature of his interactions, revealing that Spence encouraged the 'girl' to send explicit photographs, warned her not to tell anyone, and issued threats, saying, 'If you loved me you'd send pictures.'
During the initial contact, Spence asked, 'Do you like older men?' to which the girl responded, 'I don't know, I'm only 11.' He then made inappropriate comments about her physical appearance, saying, 'You've got good t**s for 11.' The conversation shifted to WhatsApp, where he asked if she wanted him to be her secret boyfriend and made further sexual remarks, including, 'If you were older you would want me to f*** you.' He also requested a photograph of her and suggested that any messages exchanged be deleted, explicitly asking for 'your young t**s.'
Although the paedophile hunters were unable to locate Spence at that time, he continued his offending behavior the following year. He unwittingly engaged with another investigator posing as a 12-year-old girl, during which he expressed regret that she was not old enough to join him in the bath. Additionally, he contacted a third decoy through social media, asking her to send a picture and describing her as 'hot for 14,' even suggesting they meet for sex.
In October of the following year, the group managed to track Spence's location and contacted emergency services. They called 999 and confronted him at his residence in New Moston. During the confrontation, Spence protested, claiming, 'This is against my rights.' He was taken into police custody but was released pending further investigation.
The group resumed their investigation in March of this year after establishing contact with a fourth decoy. Spence claimed he had destroyed the SIM card on his mobile phone, but police re-arrested him and subsequently charged him with multiple offenses.
During the court proceedings, Spence's defense lawyer, Shirlie Duckworth, acknowledged that her client had a sexual interest in children of an early age. However, Judge David Stockdale QC emphasized the severity of his repeated offending. He stated, 'The ages of the decoy profile girls ranged from 11 – 14 years, and it is a feature of the case that even when you knew the matter was under investigation by the police, your attempts to pursue young girls continued.'
Judge Stockdale further noted that Spence's actions spanned a lengthy period, demonstrating a pattern of predatory behavior. Ultimately, Spence pleaded guilty to 12 charges, including attempts to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He was sentenced to three years in prison at Manchester Crown Court and was ordered to comply with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to prevent further offenses.