26/06/2024

48-Year-Old Jailed For Sexual Offences Involving A Child

A 48-year-old Lisburn man has been sentenced at Craigavon Crown Court for attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

William Hall was sentenced to eight months in prison. He will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and will be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) for five years.

Welcoming the sentencing, Detective Inspector Vasey said: "William Hall believed he was communicating with of a 12 year old girl, however, he had actually been communicating with an undercover police officer.

"I want to send a strong message today that my team are working around the clock to identify and bring people before the courts who think their online offending can go undetected.

"It is our absolute priority to protect and keep children safe in our communities and we will continue to proactively target those who contribute to the cycle of child abuse. I would encourage anyone with concerns or information to get in contact us on 101 or 999 in an emergency. A report can also be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport.

"We will act on the information we receive."

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 November 2024
Major Drug Bust In Omagh Linked To INLA
Detectives from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force have made a significant drug seizure in Omagh. Officers searched a van in the Doogary Road area on Thursday morning, 21st November, and recovered a substantial quantity of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of £750,000.
22 November 2024
Consumer Council Advice On Online Shopping Rights
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, consumers in Northern Ireland are gearing up for a flurry of online shopping. While many retailers have already started offering deals, concerns about potential delivery issues such as delays, lost parcels, and damaged goods are on the rise.
21 November 2024
Attempted Carjacking In West Belfast
Police are investigating an attempted carjacking in west Belfast on Tuesday, November 19th. At around 5:30pm, a man entered a parked car at Hillhead Court and attempted to steal it. A woman passenger was assaulted when she resisted the man's demands. The suspect, described as a man in his 20s wearing all black, fled the scene on foot.
15 March 2023
83 Child Predators Convicted In 2022
The PSNI have recorded a 43% increase in the number of searches conducted by the Child Internet Protection Team (CIPT). In 2022, CIPT officers carried out 145 searches, 43% more than 2021, seized thousands of devices and uncovered tens of thousands of indecent images of children.
06 July 2021
Legislation Introduced To Strengthen NI's Sexual Offences And Trafficking Laws
New legislation to improve public safety by updating the law on sexual offending in Northern Ireland has been introduced by Justice Minister Naomi Long.