MICHAEL GLEESON CAUGHT AT PRESTON RAILWAY STATION IN FULWOOD TRYING TO MEET 14-YEAR-OLD BOY

In May 2021, a disturbing case unfolded involving Michael Gleeson, a 71-year-old man residing on St Clares Avenue in Fulwood, Preston. Gleeson was caught in a sting operation orchestrated by an online vigilante group known as Elite Predator Interceptors, which targeted him at Preston Railway Station. The incident occurred around 6:45 pm on October 3, 2019, when members of this group confronted Gleeson at the station, where he had arranged to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old boy for sexual activity.

Footage capturing the confrontation was later shared on social media platforms, showing Gleeson attempting to evade the group. During the encounter, he claimed to be wearing a colostomy bag in an effort to explain his presence and intentions. The group held him there until Lancashire Police arrived to take him into custody.

The case was prosecuted in Preston Crown Court, where it was revealed that Gleeson had engaged in online grooming. The decoy, posing as a Ukrainian boy named Ivor on an online dating app, initiated contact with Gleeson. The pensioner expressed a desire to take the boy’s virginity and used graphic, explicit language to describe what he wanted to do. He also sent explicit images of his genitals to the decoy, further demonstrating his intentions.

Gleeson requested the decoy to continue communication via an email address, which was later linked back to him. Their online conversations escalated to Gleeson arranging a meeting, where he planned to pick up the boy in his car and take him to his Preston home. During these exchanges, Gleeson advised the decoy to be discreet and secretive, saying, “Just be careful. Meet people who are discrete and private ok?” and “Noone will ever know about this, it will be secret.”

When questioned in an interview, Gleeson chose to answer with a no comment. His defense, represented by Andrea Lock, highlighted his poor health condition, noting that he was awaiting surgery to remove part of his colon and rectum. Despite this, the court found it necessary to impose a sentence.

Judge Simon Medland QC sentenced Gleeson to two years in prison but suspended the sentence for one year, citing his health issues, advanced age, a delay of 12 months in charging him, and his apparent “fall from grace.” The judge also issued a sexual harm prevention order and mandated Gleeson to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.

In his remarks, Judge Medland condemned Gleeson’s language and actions, describing them as “completely disgusting and unacceptable.” He remarked, “To say you have fallen from grace is poetic and accurate.” The judge also noted that probation service assessments indicated a very low risk of reoffending, estimating a 4% chance overall and only a 0.64% chance of committing a sexual offense again.