WAYNE CORKHILL'S BLACKPOOL CRIMES: SEXUAL PREDATOR CAUGHT IN THE ACT
In November 2014, a disturbing case unfolded involving Wayne Corkhill, a man from Blackpool, who was caught engaging in predatory behavior online while on bail for previous sex offences.The incident highlights the ongoing dangers posed by individuals with a history of sexual misconduct and underscores the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community awareness.
Wayne Corkhill, aged 23 and residing on Lord Street in Blackpool, was awaiting sentencing for a series of sex-related crimes when he initiated contact with a young girl through Facebook.
Unbeknownst to him, the person he was communicating with was actually the girl’s father, who had taken it upon himself to monitor the online interactions.
The father later reported the incident to police, leading to Corkhill’s arrest and subsequent court proceedings.
During the online exchanges, Corkhill attempted to befriend the young girl, who was only 10 years old.
He sent her messages that included compliments, calling her “gorgeous,” and invited her to visit his flat for “cuddles.” His language and behavior clearly indicated an intent to groom the child for sexual activity.
Corkhill’s actions were particularly alarming because he was unaware that the person he was messaging was not the girl herself but her father, who was posing as his daughter to gather evidence against him.
At Preston Crown Court, it was revealed that Corkhill’s criminal behavior extended beyond this online contact.
He was already on bail after pleading guilty to five charges of sexual activity with a child, as well as two counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming, and one count of attempting to meet a child after grooming.
The most recent offences occurred in June, the same month he admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl.
Prosecutor Sue Carter detailed that Corkhill’s interactions with the 13-year-old began with kissing and escalated to touching, illustrating a pattern of predatory conduct.
Further disturbing was Corkhill’s conduct after the initial offences.
While on bail, he met with two girls aged 11 and 12 after school in Blackpool.
Witnesses reported that Corkhill was seen smoking and walking with the girls towards a chip shop where he was employed.
On a subsequent occasion near Central Pier, he was observed hugging both girls and touching one of them on the leg.
The court heard that he later contacted one of the girls online, suggesting they come to his house for sex.
Most troubling was Corkhill’s interaction with the 10-year-old girl.
He contacted her via Facebook, and her father, suspecting inappropriate intentions, engaged in message exchanges with Corkhill while pretending to be his daughter.
During these exchanges, Corkhill explicitly stated that she was “gorgeous” and invited her to his flat for cuddles, even providing his phone number.
When questioned by police, Corkhill claimed that his Facebook account had been hacked, denying any malicious intent.
Defense lawyer Waheed Omran-Baber acknowledged the pain and anxiety caused to the victims, describing Corkhill’s actions as stemming from naivety and immaturity rather than malicious intent.
He emphasized that there were no threats, violence, or intimidation involved and that Corkhill expressed remorse for his actions.
Judge Robert Altham sentenced Corkhill to a substantial prison term of six years and seven months after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
The judge emphasized the severity of Corkhill’s sexual interests towards young girls and stressed that an extended sentence was necessary to protect the public.
He stated, “I have no doubt that had he been left to his own devices, these girls would have suffered extremely serious harm at his hands.” As part of his sentence, Corkhill will be registered as a sex offender for life, and a sexual offences prevention order will be in place indefinitely.
He is to serve half of his sentence in prison before being released on extended license for a period of eight years.
This case coincides with a police-led, week-long campaign aimed at combating child exploitation.
Authorities are actively engaging with vulnerable children, educating responsible adults on warning signs of abuse, and monitoring known offenders to ensure they remain compliant with legal restrictions.
The initiative underscores the ongoing efforts to protect children from predators like Wayne Corkhill and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
