Veteran Fylde coast football coach dodges jail after being caught sending messages to 'boy, 12' in undercover police sting

A veteran football coach has dodged jail after being caught chatting to a 'young boy' during an undercover paedophile sting.
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Laurence 'Lozz' Rose, who nurtured some of Fylde's top talents over a career spanning 45 years, escaped with just a £750 fine despite the 12-year-old he tried chatting up online turning out to be a police officer.

The Lytham St Annes YMCA Football Club veteran, who also served as secretary for decades, was also told to pay costs, given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register.

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Despite admitting his guilt during his first appearance at Preston Crown Court earlier this month, the 79-year-old refused to take responsibility when confronted by The Gazette.

Laurence 'Lozz' Rose, 79, of The Hamblet, St Annes, pleaded guilty to sending explicit messages to a 'boy, 12' over the internet. The boy turned out to be an undercover police officer (Picture: The Gazette archives)Laurence 'Lozz' Rose, 79, of The Hamblet, St Annes, pleaded guilty to sending explicit messages to a 'boy, 12' over the internet. The boy turned out to be an undercover police officer (Picture: The Gazette archives)
Laurence 'Lozz' Rose, 79, of The Hamblet, St Annes, pleaded guilty to sending explicit messages to a 'boy, 12' over the internet. The boy turned out to be an undercover police officer (Picture: The Gazette archives)

Speaking from his home in The Hamlet, St Annes, this week, he said: "I pleaded guilty because my barrister did not think I would win it, but I do know that nothing happened.

"I did not talk to a child and I did not attempt to talk to a child.

"I just got conned by a copper."

He added: "I'm down as far as you can possibly be and then you want to tread me further into the earth."

Laurence 'Lozz' Rose, 79, of The Hamblet, St Annes, pleaded guilty to sending explicit messages to a 'boy, 12' over the internet. The boy turned out to be an undercover police officer (Picture: The Gazette archives)Laurence 'Lozz' Rose, 79, of The Hamblet, St Annes, pleaded guilty to sending explicit messages to a 'boy, 12' over the internet. The boy turned out to be an undercover police officer (Picture: The Gazette archives)
Laurence 'Lozz' Rose, 79, of The Hamblet, St Annes, pleaded guilty to sending explicit messages to a 'boy, 12' over the internet. The boy turned out to be an undercover police officer (Picture: The Gazette archives)
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Rose, whose computer was ordered destroyed, has taught thousands of youngsters over the years, including some who went on to play for England and have successful careers.

He said he had "no interest whatsoever" in abusing them.

Before his fall from grace, Rose was respected in the local world of grassroots football.

In June 2001, he was reportedly given a lifetime achievement award by his club, with his responsibilities as secretary, a position taken up in 1972, said to include organising tournaments and summer coaching schools, and producing an annual club magazine.

And in 2006, he was given a Rolex watch and a "standing ovation" to mark 34 years of managing YMCA junior football teams, Rose said in an article he penned for the BBC.

The club did not respond to requests for a comment.

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It was not immediately clear when Rose's involvement there ended, though he wrote a summary in the 2016/2017 season review and said: "I look forward to seeing you all next season."

Rose was also press officer for the Poulton and District Primary League for 33 years until he stepped down in 2011, according to a Lytham St Annes YMCA editorial in a local magazine in October that year.

A spokesman for the league said none of its committee were in post in 2011 and declined to comment further.

Rose was arrested and charged by the Crown Prosecution Service with sending "sexual" messages to 'Noah' between December 5, 2018, and January 17 last year.

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On Wednesday, November 4, he pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child and was fined £750, told to pay £250 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £75, handed a SHPO for five years, and made to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for the same length of time.