WIDNES MAN BANNED AFTER ATTEMPTING TO LURE YOUNG GIRLS WITH PORNOGRAPHIC MAGAZINES
A SEX offender who attempted to lure girls as young as 13 into his company car for pornographic photo shoots has been banned from approaching women for five years.Phillip Edward Starr, a sales representative aged 35, drove up to lone teenage girls in his silver sports car and offered them cash to model for him.He displayed pornographic magazines in his car each time he made an approach.
Starr, formerly of Warrington and now living in Widnes, was traced after a 13-year-old girl he approached on Dallam Lane on February 25 last year took down his car registration number.His actions led to his appearance at Warrington Magistrates Court, Cheshire Police requested that Starr be barred from approaching women and that his movements be monitored.
Prosecutor Peter Moss established that Starr had three previous convictions for indecent assault on girls under 16 and one for indecent exposure, for which he was placed on probation in 1995.The court heard that between February and October, Starr approached eight women aged between 13 and 31 while they were walking alone in Widnes, Runcorn, and Warrington.
During police interviews, Starr admitted to his actions, describing them as a 'sad chat-up line' done for a 'bit of excitement.' He expressed an interest in girls in their late teens and stated that he had no particular destination if any women accepted his offers.
Starr claimed he was going through a 'very difficult time in his life' when the offenses occurred.Deputy District Judge David Gosling decided that a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPA) was necessary to protect lone females from 'serious sexual harm.' The order, valid for five years, prohibits Starr from approaching, communicating with, or attempting to initiate contact with any female under 16 or any lone female who is not known to him in public places.
He must not openly carry pornographic or sexually suggestive material and must declare any vehicle he uses regularly and any change of address to police.
Breaking these restrictions could result in imprisonment.
This SOPA marks the first of its kind in Cheshire.
