Man from Lancashire jailed for online child sex offences

Last week (Friday 17 July 2026) a Lancashire man was jailed for child sex offences following an investigation by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Ian Williams, 72, of Derby Road, Blackpool, was sentenced to four years and two months imprisonment after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child under 16 and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

He was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The investigation uncovered that between 25 September and 8 October 2025, Williams engaged online with what he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. He sent explicit messages as well as discussing arrangements for sexual activity.

On 8 October 2025, Williams travelled to Blackpool Train Station in order to commit child sex offences. Instead, he was met by officers from the NWROCU’s Internet Child Abuse Team and was arrested.

Detective Inspector Jon Weir from the NWROCU said:

“Williams is a dangerous individual, he demonstrated this by communicating with the boy and ultimately travelling to commit a serious sexual offence.

“This sentence sends a strong message that we will not tolerate those who look to abuse children in our communities. Predators that look to do this will be investigated and prosecuted. We will never stop working to protect children from individuals like Williams.”