JONATHAN WILKINSON CAUGHT IN DEWSBURY PAEDOPHILE STING: SEX OFFENDER OFFERS TO PAY SCHOOLGIRLS FOR SEX

In August 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving Jonathan Wilkinson, a known sex offender from Dewsbury, who was caught attempting to engage in illegal sexual communications with minors through social media. The incident unfolded during a sting operation conducted by a paedophile hunter group, which successfully exposed Wilkinson’s predatory behavior.

At the time of the offenses, Wilkinson was already under a community order following his previous arrest in connection with similar activities. The court heard that Wilkinson actively sought out underage girls on Facebook, creating multiple fake profiles to facilitate his illicit intentions. Between June and July of that year, Wilkinson made contact with what he believed to be girls aged 12 and 13, with the profiles set up by adult members of the hunter group to lure offenders.

Prosecutor Ayman Khokhar revealed that Wilkinson had established six different Facebook accounts, using various aliases to mask his identity. The primary account he used was under the name ‘Danny James,’ which had amassed over 1,000 contacts, most of whom were underage girls. Wilkinson believed these profiles belonged to real minors and initiated conversations with them, often offering money and other incentives for sexual encounters.

Wilkinson’s first contact was with a girl he thought was 12 years old. He sent her messages offering her £200 to have sex with him, and additionally proposed taking her shopping before arranging to meet at a hotel. His interactions with other profiles followed a similar pattern, with him believing they were teenage girls aged 13. During these conversations, Wilkinson openly discussed his own age, claiming to be 26, and repeatedly offered money in exchange for sexual acts.

His criminal activities came to a halt when, on July 24, the paedophile hunter group contacted the police after Wilkinson attempted to make arrangements to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old girl in Dewsbury. Wilkinson, residing on Union Street in Dewsbury, was subsequently arrested and charged. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one count of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

It was also revealed that Wilkinson had previously been caught in 2019 by another paedophile hunter group, engaging in similar conduct. During that incident, he contacted what he believed was a 13-year-old girl, suggesting activities like ice skating and offering to pay her for sex. At that time, Wilkinson was participating in a sex offender treatment program, yet he continued to offend.

During the recent court proceedings, Wilkinson appeared via video link from custody, often with his head bowed in apparent remorse. His defense, presented by Imran Khan, acknowledged Wilkinson’s early guilty plea but emphasized the need for a custodial sentence. Judge Christopher Batty sentenced Wilkinson to 28 months in prison, emphasizing the severity of his actions.

The judge stated, “What is clear to me is that you are, first of all, sexually attracted to children. Secondly, that you will go to some lengths to have sexual contact with a child. Thirdly, the intervention of the court and intervention of the probation service has done nothing to diminish that attraction or to deter you from pursuing children in this way.”

Wilkinson’s criminal history and ongoing predatory behavior highlight the ongoing threat posed by individuals like him, despite previous interventions and legal actions. His case underscores the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community efforts to protect minors from sexual exploitation and abuse.