Patrick Lynch
Attempting to incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity *
Sentence
2 years 11 months imprisonment
Patrick Lynch, 64, of Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with a Facebook profile he believed belonged to a 12-year-old girl. Beginning in November 2023, he asked for a picture, advised her to sleep naked, asked about her breast size, requested a naked selfie, and gave graphic instructions on masturbation. Despite briefly suggesting they stop chatting due to the age gap, he continued, expressed a desire to meet, and researched her area. The profile was operated by an adult decoy from an online predator hunter group, who passed his details to West Yorkshire Police after visiting his address on 17 December 2023. He was arrested and gave no comment in interview. He later admitted two offences at Bradford Crown Court and was sentenced by Recorder Watkin.
Pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming. Recorder Tony Watkin described the conversations as 'frankly disgusting'. Mitigation included heavy alcohol use since childhood, loneliness, childhood sexual abuse, and anxiety. Lynch had since stopped drinking, joined AA, and volunteered at a church. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely.