STEPHEN ELLISON FROM EASTHAM RAKE CAUGHT IN LIVERPOOL HOTEL PLOT

A man named Stephen Ellison, aged 47 and residing in Eastham Rake, Wirral, has been found guilty of engaging in disturbing online communications with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, with the intent of meeting her in person at a hotel in Liverpool city centre. The case highlights the dangers of online predators and the efforts of law enforcement to combat such crimes.

Ellison initiated contact with the supposed underage girl through the messaging platform Kik on September 8, 2023. The individual he was communicating with was actually an undercover police officer. Prosecutor Martin Walsh detailed the extent of the conversations during a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on February 6, emphasizing that the chats spanned numerous pages. Ellison asked the girl for photographs, inquired about her breast size, and showed interest in her personal life, including whether she had a boyfriend. The conversations also involved discussions about her skipping school and meeting him in person. Ellison suggested that she come to his house and even offered to pick her up, indicating a clear intent to meet.

Throughout the exchanges, Ellison repeatedly expressed his desire to kiss the girl, using phrases like he would