July 2023

Paedophile avoids prison after asking child if he could take her virginity

A paedophile has been spared jail after he offered to take a 13-year-old girl’s virginity.

Geoffrey Wanless from Carnforth appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (July 18) after previously pleading guilty to two charges relating to messages he had sent via social media to two individuals he believed to be 13-year-old girls.

The 65-year-old was in fact talking to members of a paedophile hunting group who had posed as young girls. The offences took place during March of this year.

Prosecutor Graeme Tindall said that Wanless, of Highfield Road, told one ‘girl’ she was “sexy” and asked her to send him pictures of her “panties”. He then offered to take her virginity.

“The second offence, on March 6, involved him calling her a baby and talks about making love to her,” the prosecutor said. “He then offers to take her virginity.”

When Wanless was arrested he made no comment when he was interviewed by police. However he pleaded guilty to the two offences at a previous court appearance.

District Judge Richard Thompson sentenced Wanless to four months for each offence, to run consecutively, suspended for two years.

He must also complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement with the Probation Service, pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge and will be subject to a seven-year sexual harm prevention order.