BILLY DUFFY CAUGHT IN ASTLEY BRIDGE: BOLTON CROWN COURT SENTENCE FOR CHILD GROOMING

In July 2017, a man named Billy Duffy from Astley Bridge was brought before Bolton Crown Court and subsequently sentenced after being caught in a sting operation conducted by Creep Catchers UK, a group dedicated to exposing online predators. Duffy, aged 32, was identified as engaging in grooming behavior through internet communications with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, which ultimately led to his arrest and prosecution.

According to court reports, Duffy logged into an online chat platform under the pseudonym 'Bolton Guy' on May 13 of that year. During the course of the conversation, he interacted with an individual named 'Kim Manchester.' Unbeknownst to Duffy, this individual was actually Darren Minto, a vigilante member of Creep Catchers UK, who was operating undercover to catch potential offenders. Minto soon after revealed his true identity and made Duffy believe that he was speaking to a young girl of 13 years old.

Prosecutor Mark Kellett detailed to the court that Duffy's conversations quickly turned sexual in nature. He suggested they meet in Manchester for what he called a 'proper chat and a drink,' with the explicit intention of engaging in sexual acts. Duffy also sent sexually explicit images of himself and included links to pornographic videos, further demonstrating his intent to pursue a sexual encounter with the supposed minor.

After several days of communication, the pair arranged to meet at Manchester Piccadilly train station. However, Duffy, reportedly feeling apprehensive or 'cold feet,' failed to attend the meeting. Following this, Minto and his team posted Duffy's photograph on social media and confronted him in Bolton. The information was then passed to the police authorities.

Police arrested Duffy at his residence on Athlone Avenue, Astley Bridge. During police interviews, he admitted to the offences but claimed he never intended to meet the girl in person. Despite this, Judge Recorder Philip Grundy clarified that Duffy's admission implied he did indeed plan to meet her, but later changed his mind.

Ultimately, Duffy was sentenced to a total of four years in prison, with the sentences for the four offences—two counts of attempting to entice a child to perform sexual acts, one count of attempting to cause a child to view sexual content, and one count of arranging or facilitating a child sexual offence—being served concurrently. The court's decision was met with some criticism, as Mr. Minto, speaking after the sentencing, expressed that the punishment was lenient. He stated, 'I think he deserves more but at least he is off the streets. The sentence was very lenient. I think there is a victim in these and the intent was there.'