Locations
New Street, South Normanton, DE55
Description
A 48-year-old Derbyshire man, Alexander Hall, groomed a 14-year-old girl by telling her they could get engaged, “make out” in his car, kiss, and he could squeeze her bottom.
Nottingham Crown Court heard how he arranged to meet "Millie" at a pub near Nottingham, asking her to wear lip gloss for their date.
The 48-year-old also told the young teenager not to tell her mother about their conversations, saying “she would not understand”.
But when Hall turned up at the pub, close to Radcliffe-on-Trent, Millie was actually a decoy operated by self-styled paedophile hunters.
Jailing him for two and a half years, Recorder Tim Green KC said: “Her age was known to you from a very early stage, you talked about kissing and squeezing her behind.
“You asked for photos of her in her underwear and, importantly, you told her not to tell her mother.
“You arranged to meet at a pub called the Shepherd’s Stonehouse and asked her to wear lip gloss, saying you could kiss.
“You clearly meant to meet her at that pub and take her back to your house for the full sexual activity you had prepared her for and fully intended to carry out.
“In my judgment, the factors that could allow a suspended sentence are not here.”
Mark Achurch, prosecuting, said in October 2023, Hall began a conversation with Millie on an internet platform called Wink.
He told her she was “beautiful” and “asked her if she wanted to be his girlfriend”, saying he would buy an engagement ring.
The prosecutor said: “He told her he had a house and car and told her he would give her anything she wanted.
“He then started talking in a sexual manner, saying he would kiss her and squeeze her buttocks.
“He asked for photos of her in her underwear and that they could ‘make out’ in his car.
“He also asked her to be careful not to tell her mum because her mum would not understand.
“She then arranged to meet her at The Shepherd’s Stonehouse pub in Stragglethorpe, in June 2024, seven months after contact was first initiated, telling her to wear lip gloss and that they could kiss and he could squeeze her buttock.
“He then sent a photo of his (private parts) and when he went to the arranged meet, he was confronted by the decoy’s group and was arrested by the police.”
Hall, of New Street, South Normanton, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child under 16 following grooming.
He has one drink-driving conviction and a caution for possession of an imitation firearm, Mr Achurch said.
David Watts, defending, said his client had never offended in this way before and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
He said: “At the time Mr Hall was in a relatively lonely situation."