SHIPLEY MAN LIAM GARTH JAILED FOR GROOMING TEEN BOYS ON SKYPE IN NORTH YORKSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Shipley and the wider North Yorkshire region, Liam Garth, a 23-year-old man from Baildon, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of multiple serious offences involving the grooming and incitement of teenage boys through online platforms, particularly Skype.

Garth’s criminal activities spanned over a period of nearly two years, during which he targeted vulnerable young boys, some as young as 14, with the intent of exploiting them sexually. The police investigation revealed that Garth used online chat rooms and messaging services to manipulate and coerce his victims into engaging in sexual acts, both penetrative and non-penetrative, for his own gratification.

The court heard that Garth’s offences included two counts of grooming boys aged 14 and 15, with the grooming occurring between August 2013 and June 2014 for the younger victim, and between April and July 2014 for the older. He also attempted to meet up with these victims in person, which underscores the severity of his predatory behavior. Additionally, Garth was charged with facilitating the commission of a child sex offence in June 2014, further highlighting his active role in encouraging illegal sexual activities.

Furthermore, Garth incited a 14-year-old boy to engage in penetrative sexual activity between August 2013 and June 2014. He also encouraged a boy aged 14 or 15 to partake in non-penetrative sexual acts during the period from April to July 2014. The court also found that Garth incited a 15-year-old boy to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity between October 2010 and October 2011, indicating a pattern of predatory behavior extending over several years.

Following his conviction, Liam Garth was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. Upon release, he will serve an additional four and a half years on licence, ensuring ongoing supervision. He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which will be reviewed at a later date, and he has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes.

The investigation into Garth’s offending was conducted by North Yorkshire Police and lasted more than a year. It involved gathering evidence from victims and potential victims across North and West Yorkshire, emphasizing the widespread concern about online grooming and exploitation.

Detective Constable Andy Rawlings of the Harrogate Serious Crime Team commented on the case, stating, “Liam Garth is an extremely manipulative individual who poses a serious risk to impressionable young people. It is clear from our investigation that he is a sexual predator and uses various online web chats, Skype in particular, to groom, entice and threaten his victims into committing sex acts for his own gratifications.”