WILLIAM HOULKER CONFRONTED BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS IN CLITHEROE NEIGHBOURHOOD

In February 2019, a disturbing incident unfolded in the town of Clitheroe involving William Houlker, a 68-year-old resident of Bawdlands. A vigilant group of paedophile hunters, operating under the name 'Stand Together for Kids,' took it upon themselves to confront Houlker after he engaged in online communications with what he believed were underage girls.

According to reports, the group had previously visited the homes of Houlker’s neighbors to inform them of their presence and the reason for their investigation, just moments before Houlker and his wife returned home in their vehicle. The confrontation was captured and streamed live on Facebook, drawing public attention to the case.

William Houlker, a married grandfather, was later charged and pleaded guilty to eight counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. These charges stemmed from interactions with individuals posing as minors, who were in fact adult undercover operatives working with the 'Stand Together for Kids' group. The group had only been established three weeks prior to the incident, but their efforts led to crucial evidence being handed over to Lancashire Police.

The charges involved conversations with individuals claiming to be girls aged 12, 13, and 14. However, it was revealed that the 'victims' were actually five adult actors working undercover. The group had initially encountered Houlker on a chat website and encouraged him to continue communication via WhatsApp, allowing authorities to record and monitor the exchanges.

Prosecutor Paul Brookwell outlined the details of the case, stating, “He claimed to be 35 years old, but of course, he was not. The conversations revealed a disturbing pattern. The defendant mentioned that when he was 17, he had a 13-year-old girlfriend. He also quickly discussed acts performed with her.”

Further evidence showed that Houlker sent explicit images of himself performing sexual acts. He also suggested to one individual, whom he believed to be 13, that they could have sex in his car. The defendant did not deny his actions; he confessed to police upon their arrival at the scene.

In sentencing, Judge Sara Dodd handed down a 22-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. Houlker was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of ten years, participate in a rehabilitation activity, and was prohibited from working with children in any capacity. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of community groups and law enforcement to combat online predatory behavior and protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.