PAUL APPLETON FROM LONG LAWFORD CAUGHT IN SHOCKING ONLINE SEX CRIME AT RUGBY AND WARWICKSHIRE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Warwickshire community, Paul Appleton, aged 47, of Willowford Close in Long Lawford, was convicted of attempting to incite a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity. The incident unfolded after Appleton engaged in a series of explicit online conversations with what he believed was a young girl, but was actually an undercover police officer posing as a minor as part of Operation Atari, a police initiative aimed at identifying and apprehending individuals seeking to exploit children online.

Appleton’s actions came to light when he initiated contact on October 3, 2019, using the pseudonym PaulUK47 on an adult sex chat website. During the exchange, he communicated with a person he believed was an 18-year-old woman named Maya18. However, the police had set a trap, and the individual on the other end was a specially trained officer, who revealed that the supposed girl was actually a 12-year-old. The police had been monitoring the site as part of their operation to protect children from online predators.

Throughout the conversation, Appleton made several disturbing remarks, including suggestions that the girl could come to Rugby, and discussed where they might meet. The police traced his location to his home in Long Lawford, leading to his arrest. During the trial at Warwick Crown Court, Appleton maintained that he believed he was communicating with an adult woman, claiming that the references to her being 12 were part of a role-playing fantasy. However, Judge Anthony Potter dismissed this defense as “ludicrous,” emphasizing the seriousness of the case.

Prosecutor Stefan Kolodynski highlighted the gravity of the charges, stating, “He’s charged with attempting to incite a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.” The court heard that Appleton’s messages were persistent and targeted, with explicit language and images exchanged. The police had evidence that he asked the girl if she was “horny” and encouraged her to remove her clothes and perform sexual acts, further demonstrating his intent.

Following his conviction in March 2020, Appleton was sentenced in June to a two-year prison term, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, participate in a rehabilitation program, and register as a sex offender for ten years. Additionally, he was subjected to an 8 pm to 8 am curfew for one month and ordered to pay £800 in costs. The court noted that his communication was not isolated but rather a sustained attempt to engage with what he believed was a young girl, which justified the severity of the sentence.

Clare Evans, defending Appleton, acknowledged that her client was facing the consequences of his actions and had lost much since the incident, though she noted he still retained the support of his family. She argued that his offending was opportunistic, stemming from accessing an adult-only site, and suggested that he was seeking help, having been seeing a counselor since his conviction. However, Judge Potter emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “This was a pretty sustained attempt to engage in sexual activity with someone he believed to be a 12-year-old,” and indicated that a custodial sentence was inevitable, though the delays caused by the COVID-19 lockdown influenced the timing of his sentencing.

In summary, the case of Paul Appleton from Long Lawford underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation. His conviction and subsequent sentencing serve as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking on the internet and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from predators operating under the guise of anonymity online.