In 2018, the Offender Database recorded that 24-year-old Patrick Wallis was spared an immediate prison sentence after being caught in two separate sting operations by paedophile hunting groups. Wallis—of Cromwell Road, Grimsby, Lincolnshire—was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court. It was reported that the investigation was initiated by the “Guardian Angels,” who posed as a 13-year-old girl from London to intercept Wallis as he attempted to coordinate a sexual encounter at Grimsby railway station.
The investigation established that Wallis engaged in sexually explicit communication over Facebook, offering to “teach sex” to the decoy. Grimsby Crown Court heard that Wallis encouraged the supposed child to travel from London to Grimsby by train. The prosecution reported that when Wallis arrived at the platform to meet the 13-year-old in March, he was instead confronted by eight members of the Guardian Angels, who alerted the police.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that while on bail for the first offence, Wallis went online again in May to target another profile he believed belonged to a 13-year-old. Grimsby Crown Court heard that a second group, “Guardians of the North,” captured Wallis asking the child about her underwear and making sexually suggestive phone calls. The investigation established that despite being “tricked before,” Wallis continued his predatory behaviour, which the judge described as belonging to a category of “unsophisticated and highly vulnerable” offenders.
Recorder Nicholas Lumley QC presided over the sentencing, handing Wallis a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. For his actions in Grimsby, he was also ordered to complete 90 days of rehabilitation activity and was made subject to a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). The judge noted that while the “Guardians” commendably snare sex offenders, Wallis’s continued attempts while on bail necessitated strict limits on his internet access and a total ban on contact with anyone under the age of 16.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in Lincolnshire, the status of Patrick Wallis as of April 5, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: RELEASED (Served 6-month suspended sentence; sentenced 2018; expired 2020).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active until 2025 (7-year term).
- SHPO Status: Sexual Harm Prevention Order active until 2025.
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Attempting to incite a child for sex; Attempting to meet a child; 2 counts).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court; investigated by Humberside Police.
- Criminal Record: Caught at Grimsby railway station; Offended while on bail; Targeted 13-year-old decoys.
- Origin: Cromwell Road, Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Wallis is managed as a registered sex offender within the Grimsby area following his convictions. Due to the nature of his conduct—which involved a repeat attempt to groom a child even after being confronted by a hunter group—his management is a priority for the Humberside Police Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his willingness to re-offend while under investigation indicates a persistent lack of self-control regarding his online behaviour.
As a registered sex offender until 2025, the (then) 24-year-old’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his SHPO strictly limits his access to the internet and prohibits any contact with minors under 16. Any failure to notify police of his movements in Grimsby, any attempt to create new social media profiles, or any unauthorized presence at Grimsby railway station will result in immediate arrest and the potential activation of his suspended prison sentence to ensure the ongoing safety of the public.
QUESTION – Given that the offender attempted to lure a child to a railway station and then re-offended while on bail for that very crime, do you believe that “Automatic Remand” should be a mandatory legal requirement for anyone caught in a grooming sting to prevent them from accessing the internet again before trial?
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