MICHAEL WARCHOL SENTENCED IN HULL FOR REPEATED ONLINE SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING DECOY GIRLS

In a significant case highlighting the dangers of online predators, Michael Warchol, a 27-year-old man from Hull, has been sentenced to prison after engaging in a series of disturbing and illegal communications with what he believed were underage girls. The incident unfolded as part of an undercover police operation aimed at identifying and apprehending individuals involved in child sexual exploitation.

Warchol, who was previously residing in Orchard Park, Hull, but was in custody on remand at the time of sentencing, admitted to multiple charges. These included attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor, inciting a child to view sexual images, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order that had been imposed on him. The order, which was issued by Hull Crown Court on December 21, 2023, was a response to his previous attempts to contact minors for sexual purposes.

The police investigation was initiated after authorities received intelligence from the regional organised crime unit. It was revealed that Warchol had been communicating with a decoy posing as a 12-year-old girl on social media platforms, specifically Kik and Snapchat, between December 4 and December 19 of the previous year. Unbeknownst to him, the girl was an undercover officer, and the entire interaction was part of a covert operation designed to catch predators.

During these exchanges, Warchol immediately sent an explicit photograph of himself to the decoy girl, who claimed to be only 12 years old. Despite this, Warchol continued the conversation, sending additional explicit images, including a video and a selfie. He also asked the decoy for images of herself and inquired about sexual activities. The prosecution revealed that Warchol requested a video call so he could see her, further demonstrating his intent.

Authorities used facial recognition technology to match the images Warchol had sent with his identity, leading to his arrest at his home address on January 14. During the search, police recovered 25 mobile phones, some of which were not operational, and a laptop that appeared to be broken. Further investigations uncovered additional concerning communications with another decoy, this time posing as a 14-year-old girl, between December 2 and December 19. In this case, Warchol asked for a photograph of the girl, and upon receiving one, he responded by sending an explicit image of himself. The messages included explicit questions and requests for images, with Warchol making clear his sexual interest.

He was arrested again on March 11 but chose not to comment during police interviews. Warchol’s criminal record includes a previous conviction for possessing an offensive weapon in 2019. His actions have been described as serious, but his guilty plea was noted by the court. The defense highlighted that substance abuse and emotional insecurity contributed to his behavior, and that he lacked a social support network.

During the sentencing hearing, the judge emphasized the gravity of Warchol’s offenses, which involved deliberate attempts to exploit minors through online platforms. Warchol was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Additionally, he was handed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and is required to register as a sex offender for life. The court acknowledged the importance of police operations like this, which use decoys to protect children and identify offenders before they can cause further harm. Warchol’s case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by online predators and the efforts by law enforcement to combat such crimes.