KETTERING PENSIONER JAILED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEX OFFENCES

William Griffiths, a 71-year-old resident of Kettering, has been sentenced to over two years in prison after admitting to online child sex offences. Between November 8 and December 14 of the previous year, Griffiths engaged in online conversations with a decoy, believing he was speaking to a 12-year-old girl. During these chats, he exchanged inappropriate sexual messages, shared a topless photo of himself, and solicited images in return. His arrest followed Northamptonshire Police being alerted by an online paedophile hunter group who reported the interactions. Subsequently, while in police custody, evidence emerged of Griffiths communicating with another decoy, a 14-year-old girl, via Facebook from October 29 to November 13, again of a sexual nature. He was charged with two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child and one charge of facilitating a child sex offence. Initially remanded in custody after a not guilty plea at Northampton Magistrates’ Court, his case was moved to Northampton Crown Court for trial. On January 27, Griffiths pleaded guilty to all charges, and on March 25, he was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment and received a five-year Sexual Risk Order. Detective Constable Ruth Marshall of Northamptonshire Police expressed satisfaction with the justice served, emphasizing the seriousness of the offender's actions despite no real children being involved, as Griffiths believed he was communicating with minors aged 12 and 14. She highlighted the police’s commitment to protecting children in Northamptonshire and bringing offenders to justice.