PAUL HANDLEY FROM ALDBROUGH AND STRENSALL CAUGHT IN UNDERCOVER STING TRYING TO MEET 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN YORKSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Aldbrough and Strensall, a 56-year-old man with a military background was caught attempting to engage in a sexual encounter with a minor after falling victim to an undercover operation. The incident unfolded in August 2017 when Paul Handley, a former Army officer, traveled from his residence in Aldbrough, located on the Holderness coast, to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl in a public park in North Yorkshire.

Handley's actions were set in motion after a newspaper reporter from the Selby Times posed as a teenage girl on a social networking platform. The reporter created a fake profile claiming to be 18 years old but later revealed to Handley that she was only 14. Despite this, Handley, a married father of two and a grandfather of five, showed no hesitation. He drove over an hour from his home in Aldbrough to Selby Park, where he intended to meet the girl.

When Handley arrived in his sleek black Mercedes and parked at the pay-and-display lot behind the park, he was met with the presence of an undercover journalist who was documenting the encounter with a camera. The reporter had been monitoring the online conversations and had gathered enough evidence to alert the police. As Handley approached the designated meeting spot, he was surprised to find the reporter waiting and taking photographs of his vehicle, including its registration number. Panicked, he sped away from the scene but was later arrested at his home in Strensall, twelve days after the failed meeting.

The police investigation was aided by the evidence passed on by the reporter, which included details of the online chats and other conversations Handley had with different men. During the subsequent court proceedings, it was revealed that Handley had engaged in a series of online interactions over six weeks, using aliases such as ‘Trucker’ and ‘Paul Trucker’ to communicate with the fake profile. He falsely claimed to be 47 years old and provided his mobile number to the girl.

Further evidence showed that Handley used the Kik messaging app to send a highly inappropriate video of himself performing a sexual act, which prosecutors described as “revolting.” The conversations between him and the fake girl involved detailed discussions about sexual acts he wished to carry out, with Handley repeatedly urging her to meet him in person. The judge noted that Handley’s online activity was part of a disturbing pattern of sexual grooming.

At the court hearing in York Crown Court, prosecutor Christine Egerton detailed how Handley’s intentions were clear and malicious. When he arrived at the park, he was photographed by the reporter, who had been waiting in the car park. The images captured Handley's car and its registration, providing concrete evidence of his attempt to meet the minor.

Judge Paul Batty QC condemned Handley's actions as “squalid” and “criminal,” emphasizing the gravity of the offences given his age and the perceived vulnerability of his supposed victim. The judge acknowledged Handley's previously unblemished record and military service, which included 28 years of honorable service culminating in the rank of warrant officer. Despite this, the judge described the offences as heinous, involving child-sex grooming, and noted that the entire operation was a sting set up by the newspaper.

In sentencing, Handley received a two-year suspended prison sentence, as no actual sexual activity took place. The court also considered his remorsefulness and the fact that he was caring for his seriously ill wife. Additionally, Handley was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, complete 200 hours of unpaid community service, and participate in a 30-day rehabilitation program. The case has left a lasting impact on the local communities of Aldbrough and Strensall, highlighting the ongoing dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilant law enforcement.