LONGFORD PAEDOPHILE TREVOR GRIFFITHS CAUGHT IN BOLD SEX OFFENDER PLOT IN BOLD POLICE STING

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Longford, Trevor Griffiths, a 62-year-old man with a troubling history, appeared in court to face serious allegations related to his predatory behavior towards minors. The case, which spans over several years, highlights a pattern of criminal activity involving online grooming, possession of indecent images, and attempts to engage in sexual acts with a minor.

Back in March 2022, Griffiths was initially sentenced to 20 months in prison after being caught in a police sting operation. During this operation, authorities uncovered plans he had made to fly to Belfast with a 14-year-old boy, demonstrating his intent to meet the child for sexual purposes. The police intervention was part of a broader effort to combat online child exploitation, and Griffiths’s arrest marked a significant victory for law enforcement.

Following his release from prison in February of the same year, Griffiths failed to comply with the legal requirement to register as a sex offender. This oversight led to his reappearance before Warrington Magistrates Court on Monday, May 23. His failure to notify authorities within the mandated three-day window was a breach of the conditions set during his previous sentencing, and it prompted further legal action.

Investigations revealed that Griffiths had engaged in highly disturbing online conversations with an undercover officer, whom he believed to be a teenage boy. Under the pseudonym 'Tom,' Griffiths discussed detailed plans to travel to Northern Ireland with the minor, including visiting cinemas and McDonald's, and sharing a hotel room for the night. The conversations took a darker turn as Griffiths described intentions to have sex, wash each other, and engage in cuddling and kissing in bed. Such explicit discussions underscored the predatory nature of his actions.

Further evidence of his intent was demonstrated when Griffiths booked a flight and purchased a top-up card for the supposed minor’s mobile phone, ensuring they could maintain contact. In a separate conversation with a police decoy posing as a 17-year-old girl, Griffiths inadvertently revealed his real name and phone number, which led to a police raid at his home on Ajax Avenue in Longford in April 2022. During the search, officers seized three mobile phones and discovered a disturbing collection of digital material, including 63 indecent images of children—some depicting babies—and 77 extreme pornographic images. The devices also contained searches for terms like ‘under 16 sex,’ further confirming his illegal interests.

Griffiths’s criminal record includes a previous attempt to arrange a sexual encounter with a child, which was uncovered during the investigation. In that incident, he was caught trying to coordinate a sexual getaway with a 14-year-old boy, again through online chats. The conversations, which took place between January 10 and January 17, 2019, revealed plans to fly to Belfast, visit the cinema, and share a hotel room. Griffiths, who is a grandfather-of-24, expressed affection for the minor, telling him to inform his mother he would be staying at a friend’s house and repeatedly emphasizing his love.

Throughout the exchanges, Griffiths discussed explicit acts, including washing each other and engaging in sexual activities, which he documented in the chat logs. He also confirmed that he had purchased a flight ticket and a top-up voucher for the minor’s phone, indicating premeditation and intent. When police executed a warrant at his Longford residence in April 2022, Griffiths denied any knowledge of the conversations with the minor. However, authorities found multiple mobile devices containing indecent images and search histories related to underage sexual activity.

During police interviews, Griffiths chose to remain silent, leading to multiple charges, including possession of 63 indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent images (including 47 in the most severe category A), and possession of 77 extreme pornographic images. He was also charged with attempting to incite a child into sexual activity and breaching his notification obligations under the sex offenders’ register.

In court, prosecutor Martyn Walsh described Griffiths’s actions as ‘appalling’ and ‘predatory,’ emphasizing the severity of the offenses. The judge, Recorder Ian Harris, acknowledged the horrific nature of the evidence, including images involving babies and young children. Recognizing the danger posed by Griffiths’s conduct, the court sentenced him to an additional 20 months in prison, with a 15-year sexual harm prevention order and a requirement to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years. Griffiths was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128 and court costs of £85, which will be deducted from his benefits. The court granted a prosecution request for the forfeiture and destruction of his mobile phones, aiming to prevent further harm.

Throughout the proceedings, it was noted that Griffiths had no prior convictions, but his recent actions demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior that warranted strict legal measures. His case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from such heinous crimes.