WILLIAM LANCE FROM REDCAR CAUGHT TRYING TO MEET 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN YORK

In February 2021, a disturbing case unfolded involving William Lance, an 83-year-old resident of Redcar, who was sentenced to prison after attempting to meet a girl he believed to be just 14 years old. The incident highlights the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts.

William Lance, a grandfather of seven from Redcar, traveled to York with the intent of meeting what he thought was a young girl for sexual purposes. The entire scheme was set in motion through Facebook, where Lance engaged in explicit and inappropriate conversations with a profile that was actually operated by online paedophile hunters. This profile was designed to lure predators and protect potential victims by exposing their intentions.

According to the court proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, the social media account Lance contacted was claimed to belong to a teenager living in Manchester. Prosecutor Jonathan Walker explained that the account was a decoy, created specifically to catch individuals seeking to exploit minors. The conversations began in September 2019, and from the very start, the dialogue quickly turned sexualized. Lance sent explicit images and asked troubling questions, including whether the girl was alone at home. He referred to her as a “naughty girl” and encouraged her to perform sexual acts.

Mr. Walker detailed that Lance’s messages included a remark suggesting he would have asked her to marry him if she had been four years older. The exchanges culminated in Lance arranging to meet the girl at York train station, where he intended to carry out his plans. He even traveled from Redcar to York, only to be met with police arrest upon his arrival. During a search of his mobile phone, authorities discovered two indecent images of young girls, further evidencing his predatory behavior.

William Lance faced multiple charges, including attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity, grooming a minor under 16, engaging in sexual communication with a child, and possessing two indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty to all charges, acknowledging his misconduct.

Judge Stephen Ashurst described the severity of Lance’s actions, emphasizing that only a custodial sentence could adequately reflect the gravity of the offenses. Consequently, Lance was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Additionally, he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future conduct and protect others from potential harm. Lance’s address was noted as Keswick Road, Redcar, at the time of sentencing, marking a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by online predators and the importance of law enforcement vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable minors.