Ronald Lee Swain

In a significant development from a police operation targeting child sex offences, 55-year-old Ronald Lee Swain, of Willowmead Close, Woking, was arrested on 25 October 2023 and subsequently charged with meeting a girl under 16 years of age following grooming. The investigation was carried out by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Western Area Crime Team, with support from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, using undercover officers to engage suspects believed to be communicating sexually with minors online.

Swain has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear next at Southampton Crown Court on 17 November 2023. This charge marks the culmination of proactive policing efforts to identify and apprehend individuals involved in grooming activities that pose risks to children.

The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary announced the details in a statement published on 3 November 2023, reiterating their commitment to protecting vulnerable young people from sexual exploitation. The operation involved multiple arrests, but Swain's case progressed to formal charges, distinguishing it within the initiative. No additional specifics on the grooming interactions or prior communications were released to preserve the integrity of ongoing proceedings.