LEWIS CALDER CAUGHT IN LEAMINGTON UNDER-AGE SEXTING SCAM AT COVENTRY RAILWAY STATION

In April 2016, a disturbing case unfolded involving Lewis Calder, an accounts manager from Leamington, who found himself entangled in a serious online grooming and sexting scandal. Calder, aged 27 and residing on Kingsway in Leamington, engaged in conversations with a person he believed to be a young woman on an adults-only dating website. The situation took a dark turn when Calder was informed that his online acquaintance was actually a 15-year-old girl named Kayla, a fictional persona created as part of an undercover operation.

What Calder did not realize at the time was that the entire interaction was orchestrated by a man named Simon Hudson, who set up a fake profile on the adult dating platform. The profile depicted an adult woman in her twenties, designed to lure men into conversations. After initial contact, Calder and the supposed Kayla began exchanging messages regularly, primarily through WhatsApp, over several days in August of the previous year. Their exchanges were relatively trivial, discussing whether she had a boyfriend, her preferences in boys, and requesting photographs.

During their conversations, Calder sent images, including one of himself in the bath, and repeatedly questioned whether Kayla was real. The dialogue escalated to the point where Calder agreed to meet her at Coventry railway station after work. He was asked to send a photo so she could recognize him, and he mentioned he would be in his Audi TT. The meeting was set, but Calder’s plans were thwarted when he was approached at the station by Simon Hudson and another individual, who filmed him and his car. This footage was subsequently handed over to the police.

Following the confrontation, police officers arrested Calder at his home in Leamington. During police interviews, Calder admitted to the offence but claimed he initially believed Kayla was an adult in her twenties. The case was brought before Warwick Crown Court, where Calder pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child under the age of 16 for the purpose of online grooming and sexting.

In sentencing, Recorder Adrian Redgrave QC acknowledged that the police had conducted a search of Calder’s residence for any inappropriate material, but none was found. The court also noted that the probation service assessed Calder’s risk of reoffending as low. Calder was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to participate in a rehabilitation program overseen by probation services. Additionally, he was required to register as a sex offender for ten years and pay costs amounting to £425.

William Douglas-Jones, representing Calder, emphasized his client’s remorse, stating that Calder had made full admissions during police interviews and expressed regret through a letter. He also highlighted Calder’s previously good character and full-time employment as an accounts manager, noting that his career, which was on an upward trajectory, could be jeopardized by this incident. The case underscores the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in digital interactions, especially involving minors.