WILLIAM PORRITT FROM CROSALND MOOR JAILED FOR ONLINE PREDATION NEAR HUDDERSFIELD LIBRARY

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online grooming and manipulation, William Porritt, a 32-year-old man from Kingsley Avenue in Crosland Moor, was convicted of posing as a young girl on the internet to lure a teenage boy into a compromising situation. The incident took place in July of the previous year and involved a series of manipulative tactics aimed at exploiting the youth's trust and innocence.

According to court proceedings, Porritt had previously seen the 17-year-old victim in person and had described him as “cute” to someone else, indicating a prior awareness of the teenager. Using this familiarity, he created a fake online profile under the name “Tara,” complete with a girl’s photograph, to communicate with the young man. The defendant exchanged messages with the teenager, convincing him that he was a girl around his age, which led the victim to believe he was interacting with a peer.

Prosecutor Philip Standfast told Leeds Crown Court that Porritt persuaded the teenager to send a nude photograph of himself. Believing he was communicating with a girl, the youth complied, unaware of the true identity of his online contact. The situation escalated when Porritt arranged to meet the teenager near Huddersfield Library at approximately 9:45 pm on a summer evening. The young man, still under the impression that he was meeting a girl, waited at the designated location but was disappointed when no one arrived.

After sending messages to inquire about her whereabouts, the teenager was told by the fake profile to expose himself because “she was watching.” Believing this was part of the interaction, he complied and exposed himself. However, he was then approached by Porritt himself, who claimed that the teenager’s actions had been recorded on security cameras. Porritt threatened that he would end up in court and on a sex offender’s register, which caused significant distress to the young victim.

Further, Porritt attempted to blackmail the teenager by suggesting he could manipulate security footage to prevent it from being used as evidence. He asked the youth what he would be willing to do in exchange for this favor, implying that he could get the security guards to delete the footage. When the teenager refused to buy him alcohol, Porritt suggested that he expose himself again, leading to the young man reluctantly following him into an alley where he was ordered to perform a sex act. The victim was left deeply upset and distressed by the ordeal, and he confided in his mother about what had transpired.

Following his arrest, Porritt admitted to sending nine or ten messages to other individuals using the fake profile and revealed that he had suggested to four of them that they meet at Lockwood Railway Station, although he did not follow through with any meetings himself. The court heard that Porritt’s actions caused significant harm and exploitation of the teenager’s vulnerability.

Judge Rodney Jameson QC sentenced William Porritt to 15 months in prison, describing his threats and manipulative behavior as cruel and predatory. The judge emphasized that Porritt had taken advantage of the young victim’s innocence and trust, leading to a serious criminal conviction that underscores the importance of vigilance against online predators.