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Former School Caretaker Stuart Williams Jailed for 12 Years Over Grooming and Historic Sexual Offences

Undercover decoys from regional crime units identified him after attempts to meet girls online.

Overview

  • A jury at Preston Crown Court convicted Williams of 17 offences after a 12-day trial, returning verdicts in about three hours.
  • While giving evidence, he inadvertently admitted two additional offences of making indecent images of children.
  • Officers from Lancashire Police, the North West ROCU and Tarian ran the operation, with Williams contacting what he thought were 12- and 13-year-old girls, including while on bail.
  • Forensic examination of his phone found five Category B and 34 Category C indecent images of children.
  • Historic assaults were reported by multiple women in Penwortham and Lytham, including one offence during his employment as a school caretaker, and sentencing followed the laws in force at the time of the crimes.