LAURENCE WHEELER POLEGATE SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX CRIMES IN HOVE

In April 2020, Laurence Wheeler, a man with a disturbing history of sexual offenses against children, was sentenced to prison for a series of heinous crimes committed in and around Hove. Wheeler's criminal activities included filming and voyeurism involving some of the most vulnerable victims, including infants and young children.

Wheeler, aged 32 at the time, was found guilty of multiple charges after a detailed investigation by Sussex police. His offenses involved recording a baby in a nappy in a changing room, as well as capturing footage of a nine-year-old girl in a state of sexual exploitation. These acts of voyeurism extended to other instances where Wheeler secretly filmed females showering at a property in Hove, further demonstrating his predatory behavior.

The victims and their families were left deeply traumatized by Wheeler’s actions. One mother, whose daughter was among the victims, described her feelings of revulsion and distress, stating that learning of the abuse had left her feeling “physically sick” and that the incident had “destroyed” their lives. The victims reported feeling “violated,” and the impact of Wheeler’s crimes was described as devastating.

Wheeler’s arrest followed a thorough investigation that began in May of the previous year. Sussex officers initially apprehended him at a family residence in New Addington, Croydon, after intelligence was gathered indicating the possession and distribution of indecent images of children. During the search, authorities discovered over 500 indecent images and videos of children, including footage filmed with a hidden phone in a bathroom at an address in Hove in 2017, which showed three women. Additional videos captured children under the partition of changing rooms at a London swimming pool, and messages from Wheeler to a young girl, including two videos depicting indecent acts filmed in 2018.

At Hove Crown Court, Wheeler admitted to five counts of voyeurism, two counts of inciting a child under 13 into sexual activity, and three counts of possessing indecent images of children. The court heard that Wheeler was identified in the videos by his voice, tattoos, and partial facial features. During his arrest, Wheeler was at his mother’s home in Croydon, where he reportedly told her, “I’ve done a silly thing.”

Further investigations revealed that Wheeler had engaged with other paedophiles through messaging apps like Kik, where users were required to upload child sex images as a condition of membership. Wheeler claimed he never sent images of himself abusing the nine-year-old girl to anyone, but his online activity demonstrated a clear entrenchment in child exploitation networks.

Judge Anne Arnold, presiding over the case, described Wheeler as a significant danger to children and emphasized the risk of him reoffending. She sentenced him to six years in prison but extended the term to ensure he would not be eligible for automatic release halfway through his sentence. Wheeler is expected to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole. Additionally, the court imposed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his future activities and prevent further offenses.

Prosecutor Rachel Beckett highlighted that Wheeler could be identified in the videos by his voice, tattoos, and partial facial features, underscoring the evidence against him. The case underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Wheeler, who exploit the most vulnerable for their own depraved gratification, and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts to protect children from such predators.