LEWIS HOWCROFT FROM ALRESFORD ESCAPES PRISON AFTER SEXUAL ONLINE INCIDENT WITH 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN WINCHESTER

In February 2018, a disturbing case emerged involving a teenage male from Alresford who engaged in a sexual act over a webcam with a 12-year-old girl. The incident, which took place in November 2016, was brought to light after the victim’s parents discovered incriminating messages on their daughter’s phone, prompting them to contact law enforcement authorities.

According to court proceedings at Winchester Crown Court, Lewis Howcroft, then 19 years old and residing near Northington Down, was actively communicating with the young girl via the video calling platform Skype. During these conversations, he performed a sexual act on himself while on camera, an act that was intended to be seen by the girl. The court also heard that Howcroft had been searching for illegal material online prior to his arrest, indicating a pattern of concerning online behavior.

Howcroft claimed in court that the girl had requested to see him perform the sexual act over Skype, and that he initially refused her request. However, prosecutors argued that this claim could not be substantiated and was not proven in court. The evidence presented included highly sexualized chat logs between Howcroft and the girl, which demonstrated a clear awareness of her young age. Prosecutor Colin Meeke emphasized that there was “abundant evidence” of grooming and that Howcroft was fully aware of the girl’s age, which made his actions particularly egregious.

During the hearing, it was noted that Howcroft did not deny the allegations, and his guilty plea was entered for causing a child to watch an image of a person engaging in sexual activity. The court found that his behavior was not only exploitative but also indicative of a deliberate attempt to manipulate the young girl.

As a result of his actions, Howcroft was sentenced to a three-year community order. The court also imposed a 60-day requirement for rehabilitation, along with 100 hours of unpaid work. Despite the severity of the case, Howcroft avoided imprisonment, though the sentence reflects the serious nature of his misconduct and the ongoing concern over online exploitation of minors.