DAVID JOHNSON OF PENDLEBURY SENTENCED FOR ONLINE GROOMING IN PRESTON

In September 2012, David Johnson, a man from Little Moss Lane, Pendlebury, Manchester, was sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges related to online grooming and attempting to meet a child for sexual activities. Johnson, aged 33, believed he was communicating with an 11-year-old girl from Kirkham, but he was actually interacting with an undercover police officer.

The incident unfolded when a police officer logs onto an online chat room in November 2011 and encounters Johnson, who uses his real name and claims to be a 22-year-old photographer suffering from spina bifida. Prosecutor Kirsten McAteer explained that Johnson first asked the girl if she would meet in Fleetwood to model shoes. In subsequent private messages, Johnson falsely claimed he was from Manchester and that he was 24, while asking sexual questions and twice exposing himself.

Johnson attempted to initiate sexual contact by encouraging the girl to touch herself, offering money—£20 for a kiss and sexual activity, and £50 for full sex—and persisted in his efforts to arrange an in-person meeting. He told the girl he would be in a Ford Fiesta parked at the McDonald’s at Freeport, Fleetwood, where officers from the Force Intelligence Unit arrested him when he arrived on November 30.

The court was told Johnson had a previous good character, but the offences demonstrated a serious breach of conduct. His defense lawyer, Christopher Evans, highlighted Johnson’s honesty during police interviews and noted his willingness to undertake offending behavior programs and courses, acknowledging that a custodial sentence was unavoidable.

Judge Anthony Russell sentenced Johnson to eight months behind bars and ordered that he be registered on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years. Additionally, Johnson is subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years. The judge described the conduct as 'pretty disgusting' and expressed confidence that Johnson is 'thoroughly ashamed' of his actions.