ALCESTER MAN ROYSTON GREENING ESCAPES JAIL AFTER TRYING TO PERSUADE 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL TO HAVE SEX IN WARWICKSHIRE

In a disturbing case that unfolded in South Warwickshire, Royston Greening, a 23-year-old resident of Grafton Lane, Alcester, was found guilty of attempting to persuade a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. The incident, which took place in 2015, involved Greening promising to help the girl recover some money she was owed if she agreed to have sex with him, a proposition that highlights the predatory nature of his actions.

Despite his past, which includes a reprimand for engaging in sexual activity with an underage girl when he was 17, Greening managed to avoid immediate imprisonment. Initially, he pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to charges of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. However, during the course of proceedings, he changed his plea to guilty, acknowledging his misconduct.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC sentenced Greening to nine months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years. As part of his sentence, Greening was ordered to participate in a rehabilitation activity and pay costs amounting to £200. Additionally, the court mandated that he register as a sex offender for an indefinite period, with a minimum duration of ten years. A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed to restrict his future conduct.

Prosecutor Carl Templar-Vasey provided details of the case, revealing that at the time of the offence in 2015, Greening was 21 years old, while the girl was only 15. The court was shown a series of 161 text messages exchanged between the two, many of which contained sexual content or were leading up to sexual activity. Initially, the girl claimed that her responses to Greening's messages were 'platonic.' However, further examination of her replies indicated otherwise, revealing a pattern of sexual communication.

Greening's defense argued that he was unaware of the girl’s age during the early exchanges, claiming he did not realize she was underage at that time. Nevertheless, the prosecution pointed out that Greening was aware of her age by the time he sent his final message, in which he promised to recover her money if she had sex with him.

It was also noted that Greening had a history of convictions. In August of the previous year, he had been jailed for dangerous driving. Although none of his prior convictions were related to sexual offences, he had previously received a reprimand in 2013 for engaging in sexual activity with an underage girl when he was 17.

This case underscores the ongoing concerns about grooming and exploitation among young individuals in Warwickshire, and the court’s decision reflects the seriousness with which such offences are treated, even when the offender avoids immediate imprisonment.