ANDREW WELTON FROM GRIMSBY SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TEENAGE GIRL IN HUMBERTON AND DONCASTER

In June 2011, Andrew Welton, a man residing in Grimsby, was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of grooming and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The court heard that Welton, a married father of ten, was branded a 'predatory paedophile' due to his calculated and manipulative behavior towards the teenage victim.

The case revealed that Welton first met the girl at the Beachcomber holiday park in Humberston, where her parents owned a caravan. Over the course of their acquaintance, he built a relationship with her through numerous online messages, often expressing romantic feelings. Welton wrote her lengthy love poems, telling her, 'I love you to pieces. I can’t wait until you are 18. I love you always and forever,' which demonstrated his infatuation and manipulative intent.

He also used threats to exert pressure on her, warning that he would 'drop her like a bombshell' and delete her contact details and photographs, further controlling her and attempting to coerce her into sexual activity.

The court was told that Welton and the girl later met in person at Doncaster Dome, where they went swimming. During this meeting, he took advantage of her in a changing cubicle, partially undressing her and sexually assaulting her while she was 'wrapped around him.' He made it clear that he desired further sexual encounters. The girl was understandably shocked by his actions, and he ceased his assault at that moment. Despite this, they later met again in a cubicle at the swimming pool, where Welton touched her intimately once more.

Judge Peter Kelson QC addressed Welton during the sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court, stating, 'You first befriended this girl when she was just 13. It’s clear she was infatuated. You had this girl begging, and you knew it. You knew precisely what you were about. The opportunity came to go swimming, and without hesitation, you went straight into a locker with her and engaged in sexual activity. This was prolonged and deliberate conduct on your part. You fulfilled your own sexual desires.'

The judge described Welton as a 'predatory paedophile' and emphasized the seriousness of his actions. He also condemned Welton for lying to both the police and the jury, noting that Welton admitted the girl’s account was truthful while denying his own guilt.

Laurinda Bower, representing Welton, acknowledged that since the trial, her client had shown some unexpected remorse and recognized that his behavior was wrong. She pointed out that Welton did not use coercion or force and that no physical harm was inflicted on the girl. She explained that the contact began innocently through online communication, which gradually developed into a friendship.

Welton’s criminal record was also discussed, revealing a history that includes a two-year imprisonment for burglary in 1998. However, he had no prior convictions related to sexual offenses or serious violence and had maintained a clean record for nearly two years prior to this case.

As part of his sentence, Welton was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and is expected to be permanently barred from working with children. The court’s decision underscores the gravity of his misconduct and the need to protect vulnerable minors from such predatory behavior.