ADRIAN MCBRIAR FROM HELSBY SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN CHESTER

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Helsby, a 52-year-old man named Adrian McBriar has been convicted and sentenced for attempting to engage in sexual activities with minors. The incident, which took place earlier this year, culminated in McBriar being sentenced to 18 months in prison during a hearing at Chester Crown Court on Friday, November 16.

According to court records, McBriar, who resides on Britannia Road in Helsby, had made arrangements to meet what he believed was an 11-year-old girl for the purpose of having sex. The meeting was scheduled for January 18 of this year. Unbeknownst to him, the individual he was communicating with was an undercover law enforcement officer. Prior to this, in December 2017, McBriar had also used social media platforms to engage with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl, again with the intent of sexual activity. However, these communications were part of an undercover operation, and the girls he interacted with were actually police officers.

The police acted swiftly after discovering his intentions. The day after McBriar went to meet the supposed 11-year-old girl, officers executed a warrant at his residence. During the search, they recovered his phone and laptop, which contained evidence of his communications and intentions. Further investigation revealed that McBriar had prepared a 'kit' for the meeting, which police described as 'purposefully prepared.' This kit included baby wipes, a golf towel, condoms, and petroleum jelly, indicating his intent to carry out sexual acts.

At his workplace, officers also found a note with the postcode of the location where he planned to meet the girl. Following his arrest, McBriar was questioned by police, who then released him under investigation to gather further evidence. The investigation did not end there. Seven months later, authorities uncovered that McBriar was still actively using social media to communicate with another minor, this time a girl he believed to be 13 years old. This communication was also part of an undercover police operation.

Subsequently, McBriar was arrested again and faced multiple charges. He pleaded guilty to several offences, including attempting to meet a person under the age of 16 for sexual gratification, three counts of sexual communication with a child, two counts of making indecent images, and two counts of distributing indecent images. His guilty plea and the evidence presented in court led to his sentencing.

In addition to his prison term, McBriar was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years. He was also issued a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which aims to restrict his activities and prevent further offenses. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online grooming and protect vulnerable minors from exploitation, especially in communities like Helsby where such incidents can deeply impact local residents.