PAUL WILKINS OF LITTLEPORT SENTENCED IN US FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND TRAFFICKING

In a significant case that highlights the ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation across borders, Paul Wilkins, a resident of Littleport in Cambridgeshire, has been sentenced to 13 years in a federal prison in Los Angeles, California. The charges stem from his attempt to engage in illicit sexual activities with minors while traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several years.

Wilkins, aged 70, who holds dual citizenship in the UK and the US, made a trip to California in January 2016 with the apparent intent of pursuing sexual encounters with young boys. His journey was reportedly motivated by an online setup he had created, which facilitated arrangements to meet minors for sexual purposes. According to US officials, Wilkins had been actively involved in online communities dedicated to individuals with a sexual interest in children, using these platforms to coordinate his plans.

Prior to his departure, Wilkins had served a prison sentence in the UK in 2011 for possessing indecent images of children. At that time, he was sentenced to 56 months after admitting to the possession of thousands of such images, including some rated at the most severe levels of severity. Despite his previous conviction, Wilkins was on probation when he left the UK on January 31, 2016, to travel to California. His stated purpose was to look for a house, but US authorities allege that his real objective was to engage in sexual conduct with two boys aged 10 and 12.

Investigations reveal that Wilkins had set up an online platform that enabled him to arrange meetings with minors. His plans took a darker turn when he allegedly made arrangements to pay $250 (approximately £204) to an undercover agent posing as a facilitator, for sex with a supposed nine-year-old boy from Mexico in Palm Springs. However, the child was a fictitious persona created by law enforcement, and Wilkins was arrested on February 11 after he handed over the money, believing he was securing a sexual encounter.

Initially, Wilkins faced multiple charges, including traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, attempted sex trafficking of children, possession of child pornography, and transportation of child pornography. However, under a plea agreement with the US Attorney’s Office, he pleaded guilty in September to the charge of possessing child pornography. US Attorney Eileen M. Decker condemned Wilkins’ actions, stating, “This defendant persistently engaged in the sexual exploitation of children. Today’s sentence ensures that children will be protected from his abhorrent conduct for many years.”

In the broader context, Wilkins’ case is part of a series of legal actions taken against him, both in the UK and the US. In 2011, a judge at Cambridge Crown Court described his offences as “one of the worst” involving child sex crimes. Wilkins, who was involved in volunteer work at Ely Cathedral and with the Salvation Army, was convicted of possessing indecent images of children, including videos and photographs of children as young as nine months old. He faced 16 charges spanning from 2006 to 2010, with some images rated at the highest severity levels, including 37 films depicting the most severe forms of abuse.

During sentencing, Judge Gareth Hawkesworth emphasized the gravity of Wilkins’ crimes, describing his actions as placing him in a “fantasy world” devoid of moral compass. Wilkins was ordered to serve at least half of his 56-month sentence and was placed on license for the remainder, with an extension of four additional years for public protection. Despite his release from prison in March 2014, Wilkins continued to show no remorse for his actions, maintaining a disturbing stance that he had not committed any sexual abuse.

Wilkins’ case underscores the international scope of child exploitation crimes and the importance of cross-border cooperation in bringing offenders to justice. His arrest and subsequent sentencing serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals who seek to harm children, often using online platforms to facilitate their predatory activities. Authorities remain vigilant, working tirelessly to prevent such crimes and protect vulnerable minors from exploitation and abuse.