Bradford man jailed after trying to lure two eight-year-old girls into car with sweets

William Harrison approached the girls in a supermarket in Shipley, before showing them an explicit image of himself

Author: Liam ArrowsmithPublished 23rd May 2024

A man from Bradford who tried to lure two girls into his car with sweets after approaching them in a supermarket has been jailed.

William Harrison, 63, and from Armstrong Street, offered the sweets to the two girls in a shop in Shipley, before walking back to his car.

He then showed them an explicit image of himself on his phone, before offering them money to get in the vehicle.

The two girls left and were helped by a member of the public.

In a court appearance, Harrison admitted to two offences of to take a child to remove him/her from a person having lawful custody and two offences of cause/incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He has been sentenced to four years in prison and made to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Acting Detective Inspector Tom Swift of Bradford District’s Safeguarding Team said:“Incidents of this nature are very rare, but this was truly every parent's worst nightmare. Harrison is a danger to children.

“Fortunately, these girls weren’t hurt, but were clearly distressed about what happened.

“I would like to praise the victims’ bravery in coming forward and reporting these crimes to us. Harrison’s guilty plea has spared them from having to relive the incident.”

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