Locations
Grosvenor Road, Skegness, Lincolnshire, PE25
Description
A Lincolnshire man who was arrested in Portugal has been sentenced to three years in prison for child sex offences.
Alistair Riggott, 53, of Grosvenor Road, Skegness, was arrested by a Portuguese police team in a joint operation with Lincolnshire Police International Unit and the National Crime Agency. The arrest followed a warrant issued by Boston Magistrate's Court in October 2021 after Riggott failed to appear at court.
He was charged with numerous offences including attempting to cause a child to watch/look at an image of sexual activity, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage a child in sexual communication and the making and possession of indecent images of children. A wanted man appeal was issued by police and an investigation revealed he may have fled the UK.
After discovering he may be in Portugal, Lincolnshire Police International Unit set up a fugitive investigation with local forces to track him down. Riggott was successfully apprehended and extradited back to the UK and admitted to the offences on Tuesday, August 9, at Lincoln Crown Court.
He will also have to adhere to the sex offender notification requirements, previously known as the sex offenders register. Speaking about Riggott's conviction, Detective Sgt Sam Ward said: “This is another dangerous offender facing a term in prison for what he has done.
"Ultimately, our work on this case means that the county is safer today and children are safeguarded as a result. Our Officers, colleagues in Portugal, and the NCA worked diligently to find Riggott and bring him back to the UK to face justice. It’s a powerful message that we will not give up the search for any suspect, wherever they may try to hide.”