GREGORY HORROBIN CAUGHT IN APPLEY BRIDGE PLOT AFTER BLACKPOOL CHILD SEXUAL CONVERSATION

In October 2021, authorities uncovered a disturbing case involving Gregory Horrobin, a man from Appley Bridge, who engaged in a sinister online scheme targeting a minor from Blackpool. The case was brought to light when a paedophile hunter group, known as the Fleetwood Enforcers, successfully infiltrated Horrobin’s online communications, revealing his disturbing intentions and actions.

Horrobin, aged 39, initiated contact with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl from Blackpool through social media. During the exchanges, he portrayed himself as her ‘big brother’ and expressed a desire to teach her about sexual acts. The conversation quickly took a disturbing turn when Horrobin asked the girl to touch herself to keep him satisfied and offered to teach her how to perform a sex act on him. He also discussed buying her underwear to wear, further demonstrating his predatory intent.

The paedophile hunters, operating under the guise of a teenage girl from Blackpool, engaged Horrobin in conversation over several weeks. Initially, the dialogue appeared innocent, with Horrobin asking about her school year and sharing details about his work. He then requested her phone number to continue chatting via WhatsApp. However, as the conversation progressed, he began to send explicit selfies and voice notes, escalating the nature of their interaction.

In June 2020, after a two-week silence, Horrobin resumed contact, and the conversation shifted towards sexual topics. He explicitly stated he would be her ‘big brother’ and promised to teach her about the birds and the bees. His messages became increasingly explicit, urging her to touch herself and explaining in detail what he wanted her to do. When she expressed confusion, he continued to explain, revealing his intentions to meet her in person at his residence on Stoneygate Lane, Appley Bridge.

Anticipating the meeting, the paedophile hunters coordinated with other groups to confront Horrobin at his home. However, on July 3, when the group arrived, Horrobin was not present, having apparently decided to back out after “seeing sense.” This sudden withdrawal prevented the confrontation from taking place as planned. The hunters promptly reported the details of the conversations to the police, leading to Horrobin’s arrest.

Following his arrest, Horrobin was charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. During police interviews, he chose not to comment but later pleaded guilty to the charges at Preston Crown Court earlier this year. The court heard that Horrobin had previous convictions for battery but no prior offences related to child exploitation.

Prosecutor Emma Kehoe outlined the case, explaining that the initial contact was made through a fake profile created by the Fleetwood Enforcers on the social media platform Tagged in May 2020. The profile claimed to be a teenager from Blackpool, and Horrobin responded to her messages, initially engaging in non-sexual conversation. Despite her clear statement that she was only 14, Horrobin dismissed her age as unimportant and continued to pursue the interaction.

As the conversations progressed, Horrobin’s messages became more explicit, culminating in him asking her to perform sexual acts and to touch herself. His intentions to meet in person were thwarted when he decided not to be at his home when the group arrived. The police subsequently arrested him, and he was remanded in custody.

During sentencing, the court acknowledged the seriousness of the offences. Recorder Geoffrey Lowe emphasized that society must be protected from such behaviour, which warranted a custodial sentence. However, he also noted Horrobin’s remorse, acceptance of responsibility, and willingness to engage with rehabilitation efforts. The judge sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to complete 40 days of rehabilitation activity, 180 hours of unpaid work, and a sex offenders’ programme called ‘Horizon’. Additionally, Horrobin was subjected to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order to prevent future offences.

In his defense, Horrobin’s solicitor highlighted his struggles following the recent deaths of his mother and grandmother, as well as his lonely lifestyle. Several supportive statements from acquaintances described his behaviour as out of character. The court acknowledged these factors but maintained that the offences were grave and required a firm response to protect the community.