RONALD CLAYTON FROM KEARSLEY SENTENCED AFTER TRYING TO LURE 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN LITTLE LEVER

In a case that has shocked the local community, Ronald Clayton, a 62-year-old resident of Barrett Avenue in Kearsley, was found guilty of attempting to exploit a teenage girl in the town of Little Lever. The incident took place on February 1, 2012, and has since garnered significant attention from law enforcement and the public alike.

According to court reports, Clayton was driving through Little Lever when he decided to approach a 14-year-old girl, who was a runaway at the time. He pulled his vehicle alongside her and inquired about directions to Little Lever, seemingly unaware that he was about to engage in inappropriate conduct. The girl, believing Clayton to be a taxi driver, accepted a lift from him, not realizing the danger she was in.

Prosecutor Denise Fitzpatrick detailed the events to Bolton Crown Court, explaining that during the journey, Clayton began to ask personal questions. He inquired about her name and phone number, and the girl, feeling frightened, was concerned he might lock her inside the vehicle. The situation escalated when Clayton asked whether she was 16 years old, to which she responded that she was only 14. He then proceeded to ask if she liked sex and if she needed money, suggesting that he could help her financially if she assisted him.

Ms. Fitzpatrick further revealed that Clayton explicitly asked the girl for sex or a sexual act, which she refused to do. Frightened, she exited the vehicle, and Clayton told her he would call her later. Over the following days, between February 4 and 7, 2012, Clayton made a total of 27 phone calls to her, attempting to maintain contact and possibly manipulate her further.

When arrested, Clayton claimed he believed the incident was related to a different matter involving a young prostitute he had paid for services. However, during the five-day trial, the jury found him guilty of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, despite his denial of the charges.

In sentencing, Judge Timothy Clayson sentenced Clayton to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. The judge expressed concern over Clayton’s motives, questioning why he committed the offence, and noted that his personal circumstances, including his role as the full-time carer for his seriously disabled wife, might have influenced his actions. The court also imposed a two-year supervision order and mandated that Clayton adhere to a sexual offences prevention order for five years, emphasizing the seriousness of his conduct and the importance of ongoing monitoring to prevent future offences.