PETER BANCROFT SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR GROOMING CHILD ONLINE
Peter Bancroft, a 65-year-old man from Bromborough, was caught attempting to meet what he believed was an 11-year-old girl for sexual activity after engaging in online grooming.Unbeknownst to Bancroft, the girl was a fictitious profile created by the paedophile hunting organization Stop UK.
Bancroft, who had child sex abuse images on his mobile phone, started communicating with the decoy, Sally Smith, on Facebook on June 17 this year, commenting on her profile picture as "lovely." Prosecutor Robert Wyn Jones stated, "The decoy made it clear she was eleven years old and repeated this during conversations." Bancroft quickly steered the conversation toward sexual topics, asking if she wanted to learn about sex and claiming he had had sex with three virgins.
He also sent her a picture of himself and his car and asked for her postcode to arrange a meeting.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Bancroft planned to meet her at 11 a.m.
on July 11 in Oldham, but when he arrived, members of Stop UK were waiting for him.
Bancroft claimed, "I have only been chatting with her," when confronted.
They involved the police, who arrested him, and during questioning, Bancroft stated his intention was to take her for a walk, asserting he had no plans for sex.
He also claimed the messages were meant to warn her about sex with boys.
Bancroft, of Eccleston Avenue, Bromborough, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and to arranging a child sex offense.
He also admitted seven possession offenses involving indecent images of children, including extreme pornography.
Judge Andrew Menary, QC, sentenced Bancroft to three years and nine months in prison.
He remarked, "You asked her if she wanted to know about sex" and, "You went on to describe sex acts, including penetrative sex, to what you believed was an 11-year-old girl." The judge highlighted that Bancroft traveled to Oldham intending to have sex, despite claiming he merely wanted a walk.
He emphasized that Bancroft's actions were solely aimed at grooming and corrupting what he thought was a young girl into sexual activity, describing the age difference as significant.
The pre-sentence report indicated Bancroft struggled to grasp the seriousness of his actions.
Judge Menary expressed hope that prison rehabilitative work would help him recognize the gravity of his offending, stressing that it's a matter of great seriousness.
Bancroft was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Defense lawyer John Weate noted that Bancroft's guilty plea was relevant mitigation, although it was not entered at the first opportunity at magistrates' court.
The defense also mentioned Bancroft's health issues and his lack of contact with his children and grandchildren, though his property was subsequently ransacked after his arrest, with many belongings stolen.
