'Dangerous sexual predator', 36, arrested at hotel with girl, 14, he groomed on children's chat room then abused

A man branded a 'dangerous sexual predator' was arrested at a hotel after a quick-thinking receptionist called police when he checked in with a 14-year-old girl. The employee was praised by a judge as she jailed Terence Raymond Lewis, 36.

Police said the receptionist dialled 999 and officers were 'immediately at the scene' in Stockport on January 7 this year to take him into custody. It emerged Lewis had groomed the teenager over an online children's chat forum, beginning when she was just 11 years-old, Greater Manchester Police said.

The force said he concealed his real identity to pose as a teenage boy aged 14, using another child's photographs under a false name. An investigation, said GMP, went on to uncover the 'true extent of his offending'. Police recovered thousands of images from his mobile devices after reviewing tens of thousands of text messages.

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Lewis, of Bolton Street, Blackpool, pleaded guilty in June to 19 counts of child sexual offences. They included one count of meeting a child following online grooming; abducting a child, two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; four counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act; five counts of sexual activity with a child and six counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

At a sentencing hearing at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday, Lewis was jailed for nine years and nine months, with a three-year extended licence period.

The investigation was led by GMP's Child Protection Investigation Unit based in Stockport. "On Sunday 7 January 2024, a hotel receptionist alerted police in Stockport that an older man had checked in with a young girl, and it seemed suspicious," said a force spokesperson after the sentencing hearing.

"Thanks to the diligence of the receptionist, police were immediately at the scene and were able to arrest Lewis, and ensure the young girl was appropriately safeguarded and supported by specialist partner agencies."

Police described him as a 'narcissistic, callous predator'. A spokesperson for the police unit said: "Throughout our investigation Lewis has shown himself to be a narcissistic, callous predator. His sentence today reflects the severity of his offences, and the significant trauma and abuse he subjected the victim to.

"I hope his sentence sends a clear message to other offenders that they will be caught and put before the courts, we hope that it encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report them to us”.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Wrench added: "We know that coming forward to the police isn't always easy, and we are working tirelessly to improve the trust and confidence that the public and victims and survivors have in us. I hope from this investigation, anyone who has been a victim of crime, or has experienced abuse or exploitation knows that whenever they are ready to come forward, we will support them.

"We have specialist officers across the force, and we work closely with several partner agencies, who will support you and ensure you get the help and care you need."

Gillian Petrovic, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the North West Rape and Serious Sexual offences Unit, said: “Terence Lewis is a dangerous sexual predator who preyed on a vulnerable young girl. He groomed her, initially masquerading as a teenage boy and using fake images to lure her into communicating with him. He continued to use a false name to disguise his true identity even after they met.

"The Crown Prosecution Service worked with the police to build a strong case, including using phone and medical evidence, which meant Lewis had little option but to admit to his actions. Child sexual exploitation can cause lifelong physical and emotional trauma, and our thoughts remain with the young victim in this case.

"We will continue to work closely with the police to relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who seek to commit such abhorrent offences."