JUSTIN LAWAL GROOMED TEENAGE GIRLS IN KIRKBY-IN-ASHFIELD AND LENTON, NOW BACK BEHIND BARS

In a disturbing case that highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of young people, Justin Lawal, a 38-year-old man from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, has been convicted and sentenced to prison for grooming underage girls and possessing illegal drugs. The sequence of events leading to his incarceration reveals a pattern of troubling behavior that has now culminated in a significant custodial sentence.

It all began in January 2020 when social services raised alarms about Lawal’s activities. They reported their concerns to Nottinghamshire Police after noticing that two teenage girls were frequently visiting an address on Harrington Drive in Lenton, Nottingham. Lawal was residing at this property at the time, and authorities quickly responded to investigate the situation. Upon arrival, police officers engaged with the occupants of the house, which included the two girls under the age of 16. It was revealed that Lawal had befriended these minors through his son, raising serious concerns about his intentions and the safety of the young girls.

Following the police visit, Lawal was detained and taken into custody. During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized his mobile phone, which contained evidence of his inappropriate conduct. Among the material recovered was a video recorded on one of the victim’s phones, showing Lawal using drugs in the company of the underage girls. This footage served as a stark illustration of his grooming behavior and drug involvement, further implicating him in serious offenses.

Lawal’s criminal activities did not end there. In March of the same year, authorities stopped him on Ollerton Road in Newark. During this stop, they discovered a quantity of MDMA and cannabis concealed in the footwell of his vehicle. He was arrested on the spot for possession of controlled substances. The police also noted that Lawal was again in the company of young females under the age of 16 at the time of this incident, reinforcing the pattern of his inappropriate associations with minors.

Legal proceedings followed, and Lawal faced multiple charges. He pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a sex offenders prevention order, which had been imposed on him due to previous convictions involving offenses against young girls. The court was informed that Lawal’s conditions explicitly prohibited him from communicating with any persons under the age of 16, a restriction he had clearly violated.

In addition to these breaches, Lawal admitted to possessing both Class A and Class B drugs. His actions and violations led to a comprehensive sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court, where he was handed an 18-month prison term. This sentence reflects the severity of his offenses, which include grooming minors, drug possession, and breaching court orders designed to protect vulnerable young people. Lawal’s case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in safeguarding minors from predatory individuals and highlights the importance of strict enforcement of protective orders and drug laws.