PAUL WHITFIELD FROM STOCKTON AND BILLINGHAM SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a series of disturbing incidents that have shocked the communities of Stockton and Billingham, Paul Whitfield, a 43-year-old man with a troubling history of child sex offences, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term following his latest criminal conduct involving attempts to lure and groom young girls.

Whitfield, a former postman residing on Fordwell Road in Stockton, was found to be a significant danger to children, as assessed by experts from the Probation Service. A judge explicitly described him as a 'very grave risk' to minors, emphasizing the severity of his actions and the potential threat he poses to the safety of children in the area.

He was sentenced to serve nine years in prison, with an additional five-year extended licence period during which he will be under strict supervision. This extended monitoring is intended to prevent any further offences after his release. Whitfield was already on the sex offenders' register and subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) due to previous convictions when he committed his latest crimes.

The court heard that Whitfield's criminal activities included attempting to abduct a ten-year-old girl in Billingham last September. The incident occurred when he approached the young girl on a street, trying to entice her into his vehicle. Earlier that same day, he had approached a nine-year-old girl on a cycle path in Stockton, asking if she had been bullied and complimenting her appearance, which caused her to run away in fear.

Later, Whitfield parked his Suzuki Swift near The Green in Billingham, where he spent an hour watching a girl play with her friends. When she was alone, he approached her, falsely claiming that the police were after her because she had been naughty. He then told her she could hide in his car, an act that prompted her to flee and seek her grandmother's help. The grandmother confronted Whitfield and took down his car registration before he sped off from the scene.

Following his arrest, police uncovered evidence that Whitfield had groomed two girls online, encouraging one to exchange indecent images with him. It was also revealed that he had attempted to evade police monitoring by using false names such as Paul Wilson and Gennwty Guy when registering with online platforms. Furthermore, he had unsupervised contact with a girl under 16 and possessed devices capable of taking photographs and accessing the internet, in breach of his existing orders.

Judge Michael Taylor described Whitfield as 'devious, determined, and manipulative,' and made it clear that he intended to imprison him for as long as possible. During the proceedings, Whitfield's barrister, Richard Bennett, acknowledged the risk he posed, stating, 'On any view, Paul Whitfield poses a risk of serious harm to children. I have to concede that.' The court also heard that Whitfield had shown no remorse and had continued to display a disturbing interest in young children, despite being under supervision.

Whitfield's criminal record includes previous convictions for downloading child abuse images, which led to a two-year community order and participation in a sex offenders' treatment program. Despite these measures, he continued to offend, attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl online and engaging in grooming activities. His actions have deeply affected the victims' families, with the mother of the ten-year-old girl who thwarted his attempt expressing ongoing fear and distress. She described the incident as 'every parent's worst nightmare' and shared her anxiety about her children's safety.

Another mother, whose nine-year-old daughter narrowly escaped Whitfield's attempt to lure her into his car, also spoke emotionally in court, recounting her ongoing trauma and loss of trust in others. A grandmother in the courtroom publicly condemned Whitfield, shouting 'rot Whitfield, rot' as he was led away to begin his sentence. Outside the court, she expressed her belief that he would not change and that his actions demonstrated a complete lack of remorse, emphasizing that he remains a danger to children and that incarceration and supervision may not be enough to prevent further offences.

In a related case from March 2015, Whitfield faced additional charges for attempting to abduct a schoolgirl and for grooming other minors online. He was already under investigation for similar offences, including possessing indecent images of children, which he had downloaded after searching for terms like 'teens' and 'kids.' Whitfield admitted to making indecent images, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to meet a child after grooming her online. His previous convictions and ongoing criminal behaviour highlight a pattern of predatory conduct that has caused widespread concern in the Stockton and Billingham communities.