Police have welcomed the sentence given to a Carnforth man who was jailed for eight years for sexual activity with a child.
Alan Spragg, 25, of Pond Street, Carnforth appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday (21 March) after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted grooming; causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual activity with a child.
Spragg admitted trying to groom two girls, aged 13 and 14, who he had met on Facebook. He then had sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl he had also met on Facebook. Offences occurred between October and December 2011.
He was arrested after an investigation by Operation Breakthrough – a specialist team set up to tackle sexual exploitation of children in the Lancaster and Wyre areas.
“Operation Breakthrough is committed in tackling the issue of child sex exploitation in Northern Lancashire,” explains Detective Sergeant Simon Coates. “We aim to help those children who have become or are at risk of becoming victims and target and bring to justice those who are responsible. We will not tolerate individuals who seek to exploit young people sexually.
“I am very satisfied with this sentence and it reflects the serious nature of the offences committed by Spragg. Anyone who is concerned that a young person in their care is being sexually exploited should contact their local police or children’s services department for help and support.”
• Anyone with information or concerns about a child who is being sexually exploited can contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.