Lee Haughton

At Sheffield Crown Court, Lee Haughton, a resident of Wood Street in South Hiendley, Barnsley, was sentenced on 11 February 2022 for his involvement in planning child sex offences and possessing prohibited images. The court heard how Haughton engaged in explicit online conversations with an undercover police officer posing as a single mother in a chatroom in June 2021. Despite initial caution, Haughton revealed his interests in role-playing, age-play, diapers, incest, and ultimately his desire to abuse the officer's baby, describing it as 'the ultimate' fantasy.

Prosecution barrister Andrew Bailey detailed how Haughton met the officer in person at a café, where he expressed eagerness and checked for police presence. During the meeting, he outlined plans to abuse the children, mentioning his fetish for nappies and watersports, and admitted to previously stealing dirty nappies from a supermarket bin for sexual gratification. Haughton was arrested three days later en route to what he believed was the officer's home, carrying a bag of sex toys. This operation was part of Operation Resolve, a police initiative to safeguard children online.

Forensic examination of devices seized from Haughton's property in November 2020 revealed 19 indecent images of children and around 20 videos from a site called 'Incestflix' depicting incestuous role-play. Initially denying intent in police interviews, Haughton later pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage or facilitate a child sex offence, making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child, and possessing prohibited images of a child.

Judge David Dixon labelled Haughton a 'dangerous offender' and described his behaviour as 'abhorrent' and 'depraved', stating he was in 'no doubt' Haughton would have committed the crimes. Haughton received an extended sentence of 14 years, with six years to be served in custody, and was placed on the sex offenders' register for life with a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. The judge commended the undercover officer's 'exemplary' role in exposing the criminality.

Following the hearing, Acting Detective Sergeant Dave Devey from South Yorkshire Police's Crime Services department stated: 'Haughton is a depraved sex offender who appeared to be obsessed with the idea of abusing young children for his sexual pleasure. I am pleased he is now behind bars where he belongs.' DCI Andy Howard from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit added: 'We will continue to identify and pursue those that use the internet to prey on the vulnerable.'