But it was the police who met him outside Caffe Nero on Ferensway, not a girl
Alan Williams was jailed for a year at Hull Crown Court(Image: Humberside Police)
An online sexual predator travelled two hours to Hull – and left his wedding ring in his car – to meet up with a “gorgeous” 12-year-old girl that he “fancied” after exchanging intimate messages with her. Alan Williams turned up outside a cafe near the railway station after buying a 24-hour parking ticket – but he got a nasty shock when the police suddenly arrived to arrest him.
The “pretty” girl that he was desperate to meet did not even exist and, in reality, she was a decoy that had been set up to trap people like him, Hull Crown Court heard. Williams, 57, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child under 16 between May 10 and 28 last year and attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming on May 28 last year.
Billy Torbett, prosecuting, said that Williams exchanged messages online with a decoy 12-year-old girl on Snapchat. He sent her a friend request and she told him that she was 12 and from Hull.
Williams requested pictures of her and told her that she was “pretty” and “gorgeous” and he asked her if she would meet him if he travelled to Hull from Manchester. He told her that she was his “little girl” and that he would take her to a hot tub and drink with her when she was 16.
They arranged to meet at Hull railway station but, on the morning, he told her that he could not visit because of a family emergency. He later asked for a full body image of the girl and asked her if they could meet the following Friday.
They could go bowling and have something to eat. He told her that he “fancied” her and that she was “gorgeous”. They arranged to meet at Hull railway station on May 28 and Williams travelled two hours from Cheshire to meet her.
On the morning, he sent the decoy girl a message saying that he was in Hull and was outside Caffè Nero, near the railway station. Police went there at 9.08am and Williams was arrested.
“He was observed by officers to be pacing outside Caffè Nero,” said Mr Torbett. “His vehicle was found parked near the location. He had a 24-hour parking ticket.”
A wedding ring was taped to the visor of the vehicle. “It was the defendant’s wedding ring that he had taken off,” said Mr Torbett. “He is married.”
During police interview, Williams made no comment to all questions. He had no previous convictions.
Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Williams pleaded guilty before a scheduled trial date. He originally denied the offences but he later changed his pleas.
“He makes no excuses for his behaviour,” said Miss Scott. “He is thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed of his behaviour. He is devastated and disgusted at his own actions.
“He has denied any sexual interest in children. He has taken steps to address his behaviour. He has no social media accounts at all now.
“He feels like this is really rock bottom for him. He has shown genuine remorse.” Williams had been working for an air conditioning company, travelling all over the country.
Judge John Thackray KC told Williams: “You made contact with what you thought was a 12-year-old girl via Snapchat. You made a friend request and in full knowledge or expectation that you were speaking or communicating with a 12-year-old girl.
“You requested images, you told her that she was pretty, that she was gorgeous, that you fancied her. You travelled over two hours intending to meet a 12-year-old girl.
“The offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified. The seriousness of the offence means that appropriate punishment can only be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence.”
Williams, of Ullswater Terrace, Stalybridge, Tameside, Greater Manchester, was jailed for one year. He was given a seven-year sexual harm prevention order and he must register as a sex offender for 10 years. Williams, who had been on bail, must pay a £187 victims’ surcharge.
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