PAUL WEEKLEY SENTENCED IN NORWICH FOR SEX OFFENCES AND GROOMING A 12-YEAR-OLD
A highly dangerous sex offender was caught by authorities after grooming a girl online who was actually an undercover police officer, Norwich Crown Court heard.Paul Weekley, 61, violated a court order by using concealed devices to conduct clandestine online sexual chats with a girl he believed to be 12, named Becca.
Prosecutor Claire Matthews stated that Weekley was already on the sex offenders register due to prior convictions involving indecent images of children, and that his online activities were supposed to be monitored under court restrictions.
Additionally, Weekley had moved to Salisbury Road, Great Yarmouth, without informing authorities of his new address.
Ms.
Matthews explained that Weekley engaged in sexual conversations with Becca, sent her explicit live webcam images of himself, and asked if he could visit her.
When he was arrested in March, authorities found that he had downloaded nine indecent images of children.
Weekley pleaded guilty to charges including attempting to communicate sexually with a 12-year-old, attempting to engage in sexual activity in front of a minor, inciting a child to partake in sexual acts, possessing indecent images, and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.
Judge Andrew Shaw sentenced him to three years and four months in prison, describing Weekley as a "troubling individual".
The judge noted that despite previous court orders, nothing had prevented his behavior.
"It is only a matter of time before you seek out a child in person and cause substantial harm to that child by committing a serious sexual offence," Judge Shaw warned.
He emphasized that Weekley's disregard for court orders, his use of social media to contact someone he thought was 12 (but was actually an undercover officer), and his ongoing risky behavior marked him as a "very high risk individual".
The judge also ordered that Weekley be placed on the sex offenders register for life.
Rob Pollington, representing Weekley, stated that his client was genuinely remorseful: "He needs help and is asking for help."
