MICHAEL WILKINSON FROM LANCHESTER CAUGHT IN POLICE STING OVER CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN COUNTY DURHAM
| Red Rose Database
Lanchester Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that highlights ongoing concerns about online grooming and child exploitation, Michael Wilkinson, a resident of Lanchester, County Durham, was apprehended by law enforcement authorities after attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with a young girl he believed was a school-aged individual from the North of England. The incident unfolded in September 2013, but the details emerged publicly during a court hearing in March 2014.
Wilkinson, aged 46 at the time, had been actively engaging in online conversations with what he thought was a teenage girl named ‘Sofie’. Unbeknownst to him, the account he was communicating with had been created by police officers several days earlier as part of an undercover operation aimed at identifying and catching online predators. Despite Wilkinson receiving no encouragement from the account, he continued to escalate the conversation, making increasingly sexualized remarks.
Law enforcement officials monitored the exchanges and identified Wilkinson through explicit images he sent to ‘Sofie’. The police then moved swiftly to arrest him, seizing his computer equipment as he was attempting to finalize plans to meet ‘Sofie’ for a sexual encounter. During the subsequent investigation, authorities uncovered a troubling collection of digital material on Wilkinson’s devices, including 35 indecent images of children that had been downloaded just the day before his arrest.
Further inquiries revealed that Wilkinson had been in contact with two young girls over the preceding weeks. He was actively trying to arrange meetings with them, with one potential rendezvous set to take place in Halifax, West Yorkshire, only days after his arrest. During these communications, Wilkinson expressed a desire to have sexual intercourse with one of the girls while she was dressed in her school uniform, a detail that underscored the disturbing nature of his intentions.
Prosecutor Richard Bennett informed the court that following Wilkinson’s arrest, he was immediately returned to prison because he was on a lifelong license following his previous conviction for murder. Wilkinson’s criminal history is particularly grave; he was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court in March 1987 for the brutal murder of a 23-year-old man, who was beaten, stabbed, punched, kicked, and ultimately bludgeoned to death with a boulder. Wilkinson, then aged 20, received a life sentence but was released on license in late February 2007.
Despite his release, Wilkinson’s past continued to cast a shadow over his life. In 2009, he was cautioned after attempting to contact young girls online. The latest offences, which involved attempts to incite children to engage in sexual activities and the possession of indecent images, resulted in his current conviction.
At the court hearing, Wilkinson pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to encourage or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, as well as one count of making an indecent photograph of a child. His defense lawyer, Andrew Finlay, argued that Wilkinson was aware of the gravity of his actions and expressed some level of remorse. Finlay stated, “He doesn’t feel he will ever get out of prison. He could have prevaricated and played the system, but instead he accepted responsibility. There does, just, seem to be the start of an acceptance of the difficulties he has. There is often a reluctance to accept the urges which build up with such offenders in cases like this. Having spent 20 years in custody, there has been no offending for six years. He’s managed to stay offence-free. The offence of murder was more than 26 years ago, and he knows he’s unlikely to be released for some time.”
Judge Robert Adams sentenced Wilkinson to two years and eight months in prison. However, considering the potential danger Wilkinson poses to the public, especially regarding future offending, the judge also imposed an extended license period of six years following his release. The court emphasized that Wilkinson’s lifelong license for his previous murder conviction remains in effect, underscoring the seriousness of his criminal record.
Judge Adams addressed Wilkinson directly, stating, “It’s of great concern that despite being on a life license, you were arrested and interviewed in 2009, and no doubt warned about your future behavior. Yet, undeterred by this shot across the bows, you sought out girls and engaged in sexual chat. Your actions suggest a sexual pre-occupation and attraction to children, yet the impact of your actions seems lost on you.”
As part of his sentence, Wilkinson was also subjected to a sexual offences prevention order and was registered as a sex offender for life, measures intended to monitor and restrict his activities moving forward. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of violent and sexual crimes, especially those who continue to seek out vulnerable children online from their home in Lanchester, County Durham.
Wilkinson, aged 46 at the time, had been actively engaging in online conversations with what he thought was a teenage girl named ‘Sofie’. Unbeknownst to him, the account he was communicating with had been created by police officers several days earlier as part of an undercover operation aimed at identifying and catching online predators. Despite Wilkinson receiving no encouragement from the account, he continued to escalate the conversation, making increasingly sexualized remarks.
Law enforcement officials monitored the exchanges and identified Wilkinson through explicit images he sent to ‘Sofie’. The police then moved swiftly to arrest him, seizing his computer equipment as he was attempting to finalize plans to meet ‘Sofie’ for a sexual encounter. During the subsequent investigation, authorities uncovered a troubling collection of digital material on Wilkinson’s devices, including 35 indecent images of children that had been downloaded just the day before his arrest.
Further inquiries revealed that Wilkinson had been in contact with two young girls over the preceding weeks. He was actively trying to arrange meetings with them, with one potential rendezvous set to take place in Halifax, West Yorkshire, only days after his arrest. During these communications, Wilkinson expressed a desire to have sexual intercourse with one of the girls while she was dressed in her school uniform, a detail that underscored the disturbing nature of his intentions.
Prosecutor Richard Bennett informed the court that following Wilkinson’s arrest, he was immediately returned to prison because he was on a lifelong license following his previous conviction for murder. Wilkinson’s criminal history is particularly grave; he was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court in March 1987 for the brutal murder of a 23-year-old man, who was beaten, stabbed, punched, kicked, and ultimately bludgeoned to death with a boulder. Wilkinson, then aged 20, received a life sentence but was released on license in late February 2007.
Despite his release, Wilkinson’s past continued to cast a shadow over his life. In 2009, he was cautioned after attempting to contact young girls online. The latest offences, which involved attempts to incite children to engage in sexual activities and the possession of indecent images, resulted in his current conviction.
At the court hearing, Wilkinson pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to encourage or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, as well as one count of making an indecent photograph of a child. His defense lawyer, Andrew Finlay, argued that Wilkinson was aware of the gravity of his actions and expressed some level of remorse. Finlay stated, “He doesn’t feel he will ever get out of prison. He could have prevaricated and played the system, but instead he accepted responsibility. There does, just, seem to be the start of an acceptance of the difficulties he has. There is often a reluctance to accept the urges which build up with such offenders in cases like this. Having spent 20 years in custody, there has been no offending for six years. He’s managed to stay offence-free. The offence of murder was more than 26 years ago, and he knows he’s unlikely to be released for some time.”
Judge Robert Adams sentenced Wilkinson to two years and eight months in prison. However, considering the potential danger Wilkinson poses to the public, especially regarding future offending, the judge also imposed an extended license period of six years following his release. The court emphasized that Wilkinson’s lifelong license for his previous murder conviction remains in effect, underscoring the seriousness of his criminal record.
Judge Adams addressed Wilkinson directly, stating, “It’s of great concern that despite being on a life license, you were arrested and interviewed in 2009, and no doubt warned about your future behavior. Yet, undeterred by this shot across the bows, you sought out girls and engaged in sexual chat. Your actions suggest a sexual pre-occupation and attraction to children, yet the impact of your actions seems lost on you.”
As part of his sentence, Wilkinson was also subjected to a sexual offences prevention order and was registered as a sex offender for life, measures intended to monitor and restrict his activities moving forward. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of violent and sexual crimes, especially those who continue to seek out vulnerable children online from their home in Lanchester, County Durham.