JAMES STONE CAUGHT IN NOTTINGHAM: PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED AFTER GROOMING TEEN ON FACEBOOK
| Red Rose Database
Nottingham Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has shocked the Nottingham community, James Stone, a 24-year-old man from Nottingham, was convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison for his involvement in a heinous grooming operation targeting a 15-year-old girl. The incident unfolded after Stone created a false online persona, posing as a schoolboy on Facebook, with the intent of luring the young girl into a trap.
Stone’s manipulative tactics involved convincing the teenager to send explicit photographs of herself, which he then used to further his grooming campaign. The situation escalated when he arranged to meet her in Nottingham in March, under the pretense of being a fellow student. Once they met, he took her back to his flat, where he subjected her to sexual acts, exploiting her vulnerability and trust.
The case came to light after the girl’s mother grew suspicious of her daughter’s behavior. The mother noticed her returning home after the meeting with Stone with a longer shower than usual, which raised her concerns. Upon questioning her daughter, the mother learned about the encounter and promptly contacted online child protection activists, Letzgo Hunting, known for their efforts to catch online predators.
Letzgo Hunting responded by setting up a sting operation, creating fake profiles of teenage girls aged 14 and 15 to engage with Stone. During these interactions, Stone inadvertently revealed that he had engaged in sexual activity with the girl, which was captured on video during an organized confrontation in April. The footage showed Stone being chased down the street in Nottingham as part of the sting operation, which was orchestrated to apprehend him.
Following the confrontation, the mother contacted Nottingham police, who swiftly arrested Stone. During the subsequent investigation, authorities seized his mobile phone, discovering indecent images of the victim stored on the device. Prosecutors revealed that Stone had explicitly asked the girl for sexual photographs and had forced her to perform sexual acts while they watched films together on his bed. The teenager described her feelings during the ordeal as numb and frightened, stating, “He hadn’t respected me or anything, I felt numb. I didn’t know what to do. I was frightened. I just wanted my mum at the time.”
Defense attorney Adrian Langdale described Stone as a hardworking individual, managing various pubs in Nottingham and being well-regarded by friends and family as sociable and helpful. Despite these character references, Stone previously admitted to multiple charges, including grooming, sexual activity with a child, possession of indecent images, and possession of extreme pornography.
Judge Joan Butler QC sentenced Stone to a total of eight years in prison. Additionally, he was handed a sexual offenders’ prevention order and was informed that he would remain on the sex offenders’ register for life. Nottinghamshire Police emphasized that none of the footage obtained by Letzgo Hunting was used during their investigation, warning the public against taking justice into their own hands. Detective Inspector Martin Hillier highlighted the severity of the case, stating, “James Stone not only preyed upon his young victim under the guise of a schoolboy, but he did so in her family home and during school hours, hiding in her mobile phone. He groomed and manipulated her into doing things she would never normally do, before taking advantage of her in the worst way. I cannot stress enough how important it is to report such offenses to the police as soon as possible.”
In a related development, the online group Letzgo Hunting, known for tracking down suspected sex offenders on the internet, announced its closure on Facebook. The group, based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, stated that it was ending its operations, citing the need for others to continue protecting children. The group’s closure followed controversy surrounding its tactics, especially after it was linked to the tragic suicide of Gary Cleary, a 29-year-old man from Leicestershire, who was found hanged four days after being arrested on suspicion of attempting to groom a child. The group claimed to have gathered evidence against Mr. Cleary by posing as a 14-year-old girl online, but police confirmed he had not been charged with any offense and had been released on bail after an interview. This case has sparked ongoing debate about the methods used by online vigilante groups and the importance of proper legal procedures in protecting children.
Stone’s manipulative tactics involved convincing the teenager to send explicit photographs of herself, which he then used to further his grooming campaign. The situation escalated when he arranged to meet her in Nottingham in March, under the pretense of being a fellow student. Once they met, he took her back to his flat, where he subjected her to sexual acts, exploiting her vulnerability and trust.
The case came to light after the girl’s mother grew suspicious of her daughter’s behavior. The mother noticed her returning home after the meeting with Stone with a longer shower than usual, which raised her concerns. Upon questioning her daughter, the mother learned about the encounter and promptly contacted online child protection activists, Letzgo Hunting, known for their efforts to catch online predators.
Letzgo Hunting responded by setting up a sting operation, creating fake profiles of teenage girls aged 14 and 15 to engage with Stone. During these interactions, Stone inadvertently revealed that he had engaged in sexual activity with the girl, which was captured on video during an organized confrontation in April. The footage showed Stone being chased down the street in Nottingham as part of the sting operation, which was orchestrated to apprehend him.
Following the confrontation, the mother contacted Nottingham police, who swiftly arrested Stone. During the subsequent investigation, authorities seized his mobile phone, discovering indecent images of the victim stored on the device. Prosecutors revealed that Stone had explicitly asked the girl for sexual photographs and had forced her to perform sexual acts while they watched films together on his bed. The teenager described her feelings during the ordeal as numb and frightened, stating, “He hadn’t respected me or anything, I felt numb. I didn’t know what to do. I was frightened. I just wanted my mum at the time.”
Defense attorney Adrian Langdale described Stone as a hardworking individual, managing various pubs in Nottingham and being well-regarded by friends and family as sociable and helpful. Despite these character references, Stone previously admitted to multiple charges, including grooming, sexual activity with a child, possession of indecent images, and possession of extreme pornography.
Judge Joan Butler QC sentenced Stone to a total of eight years in prison. Additionally, he was handed a sexual offenders’ prevention order and was informed that he would remain on the sex offenders’ register for life. Nottinghamshire Police emphasized that none of the footage obtained by Letzgo Hunting was used during their investigation, warning the public against taking justice into their own hands. Detective Inspector Martin Hillier highlighted the severity of the case, stating, “James Stone not only preyed upon his young victim under the guise of a schoolboy, but he did so in her family home and during school hours, hiding in her mobile phone. He groomed and manipulated her into doing things she would never normally do, before taking advantage of her in the worst way. I cannot stress enough how important it is to report such offenses to the police as soon as possible.”
In a related development, the online group Letzgo Hunting, known for tracking down suspected sex offenders on the internet, announced its closure on Facebook. The group, based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, stated that it was ending its operations, citing the need for others to continue protecting children. The group’s closure followed controversy surrounding its tactics, especially after it was linked to the tragic suicide of Gary Cleary, a 29-year-old man from Leicestershire, who was found hanged four days after being arrested on suspicion of attempting to groom a child. The group claimed to have gathered evidence against Mr. Cleary by posing as a 14-year-old girl online, but police confirmed he had not been charged with any offense and had been released on bail after an interview. This case has sparked ongoing debate about the methods used by online vigilante groups and the importance of proper legal procedures in protecting children.