'Manipulative' paedophile given extended prison sentence after arranging to meet '13-year-old girl' for sex two months after prison release

A prolific paedophile has been given an extended prison sentence of 12 years after arranging to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old for sex soon after being released from prison.
Le Grove was jailed again.Le Grove was jailed again.
Le Grove was jailed again.

Gareth Le Grove was told by a judge that he is "manipulative" and represents a serious danger to children and vulnerable adults when he was locked up at Leeds Crown Court.

Le Grove, from Wakefield, was released from custody in June this year after serving a sentence for sex offences after he was caught by a paedophile hunter group in the Bolton area in 2019.

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Rukhshanda Hussain, prosecuting, said Le Grove was arrested again on September 2 this year after making contact with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl on the Kik messenger app.

The 32-year-old was in fact exchanging messages with an undercover police officer.

Le Grove sent explicit pictures of himself to the 'girl' and made arrangements to meet her for sex.

The defendant was arrested by officers when he turned at an arranged meeting place believing her was going to have sex with the teenager.

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Le Grove, of Doncaster Road, Wakefield, pleaded guilty to arranging the commission of a child sex offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming, breach of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and attempting to breach a SHPO.

He was made the subject of a SHPO in February 2015 after grooming a 14-year-old girl and sending her sexual images.

In 2018 he breached the terms of the order when he had failed to register a mobile phone with police officers.

Gareth Henderson-Moore, mitigating, said his client suffered from mental health problems including anxiety and depression.

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The barrister said: "He is no stranger to the courts or the custodial environment.

"During his last sentence he expressed a wish to go on a programme to help to deal with his compulsions."

Le Grove was told he must serve a custodial term of six years followed by an extended six-year licence period.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Guy Kearl QC, said: "I have formed the view that you are manipulative and lack insight into the offending you commit.

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"It seems to me you target both children and vulnerable adults.

"There is a clear pattern of offending, both persistent and repeated.

"It seems that you have made little progress over the last five years.

"You are not motivated to change, although you claim that you are."