In 2026, the Offender Database reported that James Lawton, then 23, previously of Mill Street, Congleton, Cheshire, remains in custody following his sentencing for a series of predatory online crimes. Lawton appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday, 9 January 2026, where he was jailed for three years and four months. The investigation, led by the Cheshire Police Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, revealed that Lawton utilised digital platforms to target and exploit young girls across the country.
The investigation was launched in January 2025 after police received intelligence regarding Lawton’s internet activity. A warrant executed at his home in Crewe, Cheshire, led to the seizure of electronic devices containing 368 indecent images and videos of children, with over 129 of these being the most severe, Category A. The court heard that Lawton’s offending took place between June and August 2024, involving victims as young as nine and 12 years old.
Lawton utilised deceptive tactics to manipulate his victims. Sussex Police reported that he contacted a 12-year-old girl, falsely claiming he was 15 to gain her trust. He sent her sexual images and videos of himself while encouraging her to reciprocate. Furthermore, the prosecution emphasised that Lawton also requested indecent images from a nine-year-old girl in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, highlighting the predatory nature of his behaviour.
At Chester Crown Court, Lawton pleaded guilty to a wide array of charges, including inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, making and possessing indecent images, and possession of extreme pornography. In addition to his custodial sentence, the judge emphasised the necessity of long-term monitoring by ordering Lawton to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. He was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to restrict his future access to the internet and children.
As a result of his convictions, James Lawton is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Cheshire Police. This ensures that his behaviour and digital footprint in Congleton, Crewe, and the wider North West are strictly monitored upon his eventual release. Any breach of his SHPO or attempts to contact minors online will result in his immediate arrest and return to prison.
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