STEPHEN POCKLINGTON AND HIS SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN WAKEFIELD

Stephen Pocklington, a man with a troubling history of crimes against children, has once again found himself at the center of a serious criminal case in Wakefield. The 50-year-old, who has previously served time for similar offences, was caught engaging in inappropriate online communication with a girl through Messenger earlier this month. However, it was later revealed that the profile he used was not genuine but was operated by a paedophile hunter group aiming to expose predators.

According to the court proceedings at Leeds Crown Court, Pocklington initiated contact with the girl by asking a seemingly innocent question about her preferences for chocolate. The conversation quickly took a disturbing turn when the profile responded, revealing that she was only 12 years old. Pocklington’s response was to instruct her not to tell anyone about their interaction, a clear attempt to conceal his intentions.

Over the course of two days, the conversation escalated into sexual content. Prosecutor Gareth Henderson-Moore detailed that Pocklington encouraged the girl to masturbate and even asked if he could perform sexual acts on her. He also sought her phone number and inquired about when she would be alone, emphasizing that their communication should remain a secret. The predator’s actions demonstrated a calculated effort to exploit a minor for sexual gratification.

The case took a further turn when the paedophile hunter group involved in the investigation decided to take action. They visited Pocklington’s residence on Clifton Road, Sharlston Common, Wakefield, after gathering sufficient evidence of his misconduct. It was disclosed that Pocklington has a long and troubling criminal record, with five convictions resulting in a total of 17 offences. Of these, 12 offences were directly related to children, highlighting a pattern of predatory behavior.

His criminal history includes a 2018 conviction for multiple offences, such as causing a child to watch sexual activity and attempting to pay a minor for sexual services. As part of his sentencing, Pocklington was placed on the sex offender register and was subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), measures designed to monitor and restrict his activities.

In court, Pocklington admitted to several serious charges related to his latest offending. These included attempting to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to communicate sexually with a child, breaching the terms of his SHPO, and violating the conditions of the sex offender register.

During the sentencing hearing, defense lawyer Ian Cook acknowledged Pocklington’s guilty pleas and his cooperation with police investigations, which he described as mitigating factors. Cook also noted that Pocklington expressed remorse and a desire to work with probation services to address his issues, which he attributed to alcohol misuse.

Judge Simon Phillips KC sentenced Pocklington to 32 months in prison and ordered that he remain on the sex offender register indefinitely. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating that Pocklington’s actions demonstrated a clear pattern of offending behavior and posed a significant risk to female children. The judge described his conduct as sexualized behavior directed towards what he believed was a young child, underscoring the gravity of his predatory tendencies and the ongoing danger he represents to the community.