PAUL FRYER INVOLVED IN DISTURBING INCIDENTS IN COVENTRY

In October 2017, a mother from the Rednal area admitted to sending a video of her six-year-old daughter dressed in fishnet tights to an online predator. The woman, in her 30s, pleaded not guilty at Coventry Crown Court to causing or inciting her child to engage in sexual activity. The court was told that, at the request of Paul Fryer, a 39-year-old man from Farm Street, Harbury, she recorded her daughter dressing and sent the clip to him. Fryer appeared via video link from prison, having previously pleaded guilty to causing the child to wear sexually suggestive clothing.

Fryer, who has a known history of sexual offenses, was remanded in custody after police found the video on his phone. Detectives traced the mother, who cannot be named to protect her daughter’s identity.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC commented, “It occurs to me that someone made potentially an indecent photograph of a child, which is a different offence but does not require the element of incitement. A six-year-old in fishnet tights might mean a jury found it very easy to decide that issue. I wonder whether that might resolve the case.” He adjourned proceedings to consider whether the mother had committed an offence related to indecent images.

When the case resumed, prosecutor Adam Western requested to add a charge of making an indecent image of a child, which the mother then pleaded guilty to. Judge Lockhart emphasized that production of the image was a serious matter, stating, “The main protagonist, on one view of the case, is not this defendant.” He ordered a pre-sentence report and required the mother to register as a sex offender. She was granted bail on the condition that she has no contact with children under 13 without social services' approval.

Fryer was also due to be sentenced but the case was postponed to allow for joint sentencing, with the judge indicating Fryer faced a custodial sentence.

In a separate incident from March 2009, Paul Fryer was involved in an assault against a woman to obtain money for his daughter’s birthday. Fryer approached Miss Gatto in the dark, covering her mouth and pushing her into bushes before fleeing when she screamed. Fryer, then 30 and of Haseley Close, was sentenced at Coventry Crown Court to three years in prison after pleading guilty to assault with intent to rob.

The court heard that Miss Gatto was walking to a gym in Bedford Street on a December evening when she noticed Fryer riding a bicycle and giving her a strange look. As she continued walking, he grabbed her from behind, covering her face and holding her tightly, forcing her into some bushes. She fought back and screamed, attracting help from a nearby woman and a gym employee. Fryer fled along Bedford Street and was later detained by police, who found he had targeted her for money concerns related to his daughter’s upcoming birthday and Christmas.

Judge Christopher Bright expressed condemnation, stating, “One can only imagine the terror you instilled. Women are entitled to go about their business in this or any other city without being attacked by people like you.”