PAUL WHITE FROM UPWELL SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AFTER PAEDOPHILE HUNTER STING IN NORWICH AND WISBECH

In a recent case that has drawn significant attention, Paul White, a 55-year-old man from Upwell, near Wisbech, has been convicted and sentenced for serious sexual offences involving minors. The case unfolded after White was targeted by an online paedophile hunting group known as Innocent Voices, which operates by posing as underage girls to catch individuals attempting to engage in illegal sexual communications.

White’s criminal activities came to light following a sting operation conducted in March 2022. Members of Innocent Voices approached him at his residence on Dovecote Road in Upwell. During this confrontation, White was found to have been engaging in inappropriate and sexualized conversations with what he believed to be teenage girls, specifically a 13-year-old girl. The group’s members posed as minors to lure him into admitting to his intentions and actions.

According to court records, White had been communicating with the decoys since October 2021. Over this period, he asked the supposed girls if they had boyfriends, inquired about their physical development, and requested explicit images. He also discussed meeting up with them, although he never followed through with any actual meetings. These conversations were part of a broader pattern of predatory behavior that alarmed the authorities.

Further investigation revealed that White had been in possession of a mobile phone capable of internet access, which was a violation of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) previously imposed on him. This order was a consequence of a prior conviction for sexual offences in 2017. The breach of this order, along with the new offences, underscored the ongoing risk he posed.

White’s court appearance took place at Norwich Crown Court on June 9, 2022. He faced multiple charges, including four counts of sexual communication with a minor under 16, breaching the SHPO, and possessing a mobile phone without informing the police. During the hearing, White admitted to the charges, which led to his sentencing.

Judge Katharine Moore sentenced White to 40 months in prison, describing his conduct as “deeply concerning” and labeling him a “dangerous offender.” The judge emphasized that White was assessed as being at a “high risk of causing serious sexual harm” to children. In addition to his prison term, White was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for a period of ten years. The court also adjourned the case until July 7, 2022, when a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) will be issued to further restrict his activities.

Earlier, in April 2022, White had already pleaded guilty to similar offences after being caught in a separate sting operation. On that occasion, members of Innocent Voices confronted him at his home, where he was found to have been asking what he believed were teenage girls for nude images and discussing sexual acts. He admitted to four offences, including two counts of sexual communication with a minor under 16, and breaching the 2017 SHPO by attempting to contact underage girls and possessing a mobile phone without police notification. Prosecutors accepted pleas of not guilty on three other charges related to encouraging minors to engage in sexual activities and viewing explicit images.

Judge Andrew Shaw warned White that “custody of considerable length is inevitable,” citing his previous convictions and the ongoing risk he posed. White was remanded in custody and scheduled for sentencing on May 10, 2022, reflecting the seriousness with which the court viewed his actions and the potential danger to children in the community.