WILLIAM LENEHAN PRESTON AND SKIPTON PAEDOPHILE CAUGHT IN UNDERCOVER POLICE OPERATION

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Preston and Skipton, William Gerald Lenehan, aged 65, was found to have engaged in highly predatory and illegal online activities aimed at facilitating child abuse. The investigation, which was initiated by police authorities in Kent in early 2017, uncovered a pattern of deliberate and calculated efforts by Lenehan to communicate with individuals he believed were parents willing to allow him to abuse their children.

Throughout the course of the investigation, Lenehan maintained clandestine contact with an undercover police officer, believing he was communicating with a parent who was open to facilitating the abuse of his two young daughters. The police had set up a sting operation, and it was revealed that Lenehan had been in secret online contact with the officer for approximately two months. During this period, he employed secure email accounts based in Russia, such as Yandex and Protonmail, which are known for their privacy features and resistance to sharing information with law enforcement agencies. Prosecutor Mercedes Jabbari explained that Lenehan was aware of the security measures and had even advised the officer to change email addresses frequently to avoid detection.

Further evidence showed that Lenehan had installed sophisticated software on his mobile device, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for investigators to scrutinize his browsing history. The software also provided access to the dark web, a hidden part of the internet often associated with illegal activities. These measures underscored his intent to conceal his illicit activities and communications.

According to court proceedings at Preston Crown Court, the police's investigation revealed that Lenehan initiated contact with the undercover officer in May 2017, using the email address 'Exciting Times.' Over the following months, he engaged in explicit and disturbing conversations concerning the abuse of children, including his own daughters aged three and six. The defendant suggested setting up a chat group under the alias 'Gary' to facilitate further communication.

During these exchanges, Lenehan not only discussed the possibility of abuse but also sent the officer images depicting child abuse, including one of an eight-year-old girl holding a placard with the date and his Kik Messenger username. These images were traced back to a man in Torquay who was subsequently arrested and convicted, indicating that Lenehan had obtained them from a source close to the original abuser.

The investigation also utilized Lenehan’s internet provider details from Kik Messenger to locate his residence on Devonshire Place in Preston. At the time of his arrest, Lenehan was working abroad in France but was detained at Manchester Airport the following day. A search of his mobile phone uncovered 61 indecent images and videos of children, with classifications ranging from Category A, the most severe, to Category C. Among these were videos of children aged between five and ten, with one video lasting over five minutes. The images included photographs of children holding signs with the date and Lenehan’s Kik username, further evidencing his involvement in the distribution of child exploitation material.

The phone also contained multiple tools designed for secure communication and data deletion, including software for permanently erasing images and hiding Virtual Private Network (VPN) addresses. These measures made it exceedingly difficult for authorities to trace or intercept his online activities. The evidence indicated that Lenehan had been in possession of these illicit images since 2012, suggesting a long-standing pattern of offending.

William Lenehan pleaded guilty to several charges, including encouraging a man to take and send him indecent images of children, distributing such images, and possessing indecent images himself. Judge Beverley Lunt described his actions as 'concerted, determined, and premeditated,' emphasizing that only a custodial sentence was appropriate given the severity of his conduct.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Lunt condemned Lenehan’s behavior, stating that there was no plausible explanation for his actions beyond perversion. She pointed out that his claims of boredom and being away from his partner did not justify or excuse his criminal activities. The judge highlighted the extensive use of secure communication tools and the deliberate planning involved in his offending, including attempts to arrange meetings for the purpose of abusing children and obtaining images from sources close to the original abusers.

Ultimately, the court’s findings confirmed that William Gerald Lenehan’s actions were deeply calculated and malicious, with a clear intent to exploit and harm vulnerable children. His case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts to combat such heinous crimes.