Higher Walton pervert sent vile sexual messages and pictures to schoolgirls

Adrian John Gorrell, 52, of Church Terrace, Blackburn Road, Higher Walton, Preston, used the social media site Snapchat to send a picture of his private parts to a 15-year-old girl.

Gorrell was already subject to sexual offender notification requirements due to being cautioned by police 11 months earlier for inciting a 13-year-old to engage in a sexual act, after befriending her on Facebook.

Judge David Potter, sitting at Preston Crown Court, said: " That caution should have served as a timely reminder to you to regulate your behaviour when communicating with people you know or believe to be under 16.

"You deny a sexual interest in teenagers, yet the internet history seen by the police shows the lie to that denial. It is, I’m afraid, the all-too familiar picture of a bored, socially isolated, lonely man with low self-esteem, lacking confidence, targeting vulnerable teenagers for thrill-seeking with no regard for the consequences of your actions. "

The court heard on April 27 last year, during an offender manager visit, Gorrell offered his mobile telephone and laptop for examination.

His internet search history revealed he entered search terms on legal porn sites about school girls, teenagers and incest.

On May 14, a 15-year-old girl was travelling to school when she received an unsolicited message from Gorrell on her Snapchat account asking for her age and he began bombarding her with sexually explicit questions, comments about his private parts and a lewd picture.

The youngster told him to leave her alone, eventually blocked him and reported his activity to the police.

In October 2019 Gorrell sent the same girl a Facebook friend request which she ignored.

The court heard on February 27 this year a 22-year-old woman was contacted on Facebook Messenger by Gorrell asking how old she was.

She lied and said she was 14.

Judge Potter added: " You, turned on by that, began to message sexually explicit messages to her and suggested meeting the following day at a McDonalds.

"The following morning you continued with your inappropriate remarks and sent her a picture.

" These messages, which were initially considered by her as a joke, alarmed and distressed her as they became increasingly explicit, and were handed to the police.

"You were arrested by the police and admitted communicating with both, admitting that you are sexually attracted to young girls."

Gorrell pleaded guilty to communicating with a child for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, and intentionally attempting to communicate with a girl under 16.

He added: "I accept that you, single after the breakdown of your marriage nine years ago and reacting badly to the death of your mother, have struggled to form appropriate intimate relationships.

"You have therefore taken to the internet to engage in sexual communication.

"But I am equally sure that you have an extremely unhealthy sexual interest in children. Whilst this interest has – so far – only been conducted remotely by the internet, there is, in my judgment, a significant risk of you escalating your criminal behaviour into attempting to meet children for the purpose of sexual activity.

"I have read the heartfelt testimonials by your sisters. I have no doubt you have suffered trauma, but you have sought solace in the internet by targeting young females and that must stop."

However, he suspended his six month sentence for 18 months as he felt the defendant required " treatment rather than simple punishment" and had a prospect of rehabilitation.

Gorrell, who had spent a month on remand, also received a rehabilitation order, programme requirement, and sexual harm prevention order.