ARTHUR STOKES FROM SOUTHAM JAILED FOR ATTEMPTED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF TEENAGERS IN WARWICK

In a case that has shocked the local community of Southam, Arthur Stokes, a 58-year-old man, has been sentenced to prison after attempting to engage in sexual activities with what he believed to be underage girls. The incident, which took place in January 2019, was brought to light during a court hearing at Warwick Crown Court, revealing disturbing details about Stokes's actions and his background.

According to court records, Stokes had accessed an online dating platform where he initiated contact with two individuals he believed to be teenage girls, using the pseudonyms Lara and Sarah. Despite being explicitly informed that Lara was 13 years old and Sarah was 14, Stokes continued to communicate with them, sending graphic messages and photographs that were of a sexual nature. He even expressed a desire to meet Sarah in Leeds, indicating his intent to pursue a physical encounter.

The police were alerted to the situation after the individuals behind the decoy profiles reported the suspicious activity. When authorities arrested Stokes, they discovered that he had conducted online searches for accommodations in Leeds, including bed and breakfasts, suggesting plans to meet the supposed minors.

During police interviews, Stokes claimed to have learning difficulties, particularly with reading and writing, which was corroborated by the prosecution. Despite his challenges with literacy, he managed to send and receive messages that were highly sexualized, raising concerns about his intent and understanding.

Stokes’s criminal history includes two convictions from the 1980s for indecent assault on children, which underscores a troubling pattern of behavior. He maintained that he believed he was communicating on an over-18 dating site and that he thought the girls’ ages were a joke or part of roleplay, a claim that the court did not accept as a defense.

His defense attorney, Simon Hunka, explained that Stokes’s literacy difficulties led him to use an application that converts speech to text and vice versa, which may have affected the clarity of his messages. Hunka described Stokes as leading a lonely, isolated life, with his family having distanced themselves from him after his earlier offenses. He highlighted that Stokes had not been able to reconcile with his siblings before their passing and that he spent most days watching television alone, only venturing out early in the mornings to avoid social contact.

Judge Jacob Hallam QC sentenced Stokes to two and a half years in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, noting that Stokes believed he was in contact with teenage girls and was engaging them with highly sexualized language. The judge acknowledged that although Stokes’s literacy issues prevented him from fully understanding the written messages, he was still capable of seeking sexual contact with individuals he thought were minors. The court was reassured that no actual children were harmed in this case, but the potential risk was significant.

Stokes was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life, a measure intended to monitor and prevent any future offenses. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online predatory behavior and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation.