Description
A man groomed a 12-year-old child in Lancaster and then tried to cover his tracks by asking his victim to delete pictures, chats and videos.
Thomas Freret, 39, is now behind bars after pleading guilty to several offences.
The offences, which happened in Lancaster, date back to 2020 when the victim was just 12-years-old.
Freret groomed the victim for sexualised chats, pictures and videos and told the victim to delete the messages in a bid to cover his tracks.
Enquiries found that Freret, who lived at an address in Elche, Spain, until his arrest on November 10, had been issued with a sexual offences prevention order in 2013. This banned him from using the internet to contact or attempt to contact any child known or believed to be under the age of 16, which this latest offending put him in breach of.
On July 14, he was jailed for six years at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and breach of a sexual offences prevention order.
During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, Freret was also put on the sex offenders register for life and made subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
DS John Barton, from the police’s west internet child exploitation team, said: “Freret groomed and exploited a vulnerable child for his own sordid sexual interests. Despite residing in Spain, officers worked tirelessly to ensure he faced justice back here in Lancashire and now he is behind bars where he belongs.”
“Freret is one of a growing number of offenders we’ve put before the courts and I hope this case sends a strong message that our team will continue to relentlessly pursue those who prey on vulnerable young children online.”
The man pictured is 39-year-old Thomas Freret and he is a sex offender.
Yesterday (14th July) he was jailed for six years at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
The offences, which happened in Lancaster, date back to 2020 when the victim was just 12 years old.
Freret groomed the victim for sexualised chats, pictures and videos and told the victim to delete the messages in a bid to cover his tracks.
Enquiries found that Freret, who lived at an address in Elche, Spain, until his arrest on 10th November 2024, had been issued with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order in 2013. This banned him from using the internet to contact or attempt to contact any child known or believed to be under the age of 16, which this latest offending put him in breach of.
During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, Freret was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
DS John Barton, from our West Internet Child Exploitation Team, said:
“Freret groomed and exploited a vulnerable child for his own sordid sexual interests. Despite residing in Spain, officers worked tirelessly to ensure he faced justice back here in Lancashire and now he is behind bars where he belongs.”
“Freret is one of a growing number of offenders we’ve put before the courts and I hope this case sends a strong message that our team will continue to relentlessly pursue those who prey on vulnerable young children online.”