A predator who told a woman he met online to sexually assault two young children has his sentence increased by more than two years.
Alan Nicholson, of High Harrington, near Workington, had his case referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
In September 2021, Alan Nicholson, 53, spoke to a woman online, called Louise, who he believed had two daughters, aged five-years-old and a baby of four months.
Their conversations revolved around serious acts of sexual abuse that Nicholson intended to carry out on Louise’s children.
However, Louise was an undercover police officer supporting Cumbria Constabulary’s cyber and digital crime unit.
Nicholson was found guilty on two counts of attempting to arrange/facilitate the commission of a child sex offence and received a three-year prison sentence.
He was also placed on the Sex Offender’s Register and given a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
Following the sentencing at the Crown Court at Carlisle on December 16, the case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
Nicholson’s original sentence was found to be unduly lenient by the Court of Appeal on March 9 and was increased to five years and nine months.
Speaking after the hearing, Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP, said: “Alan Nicholson believed he was successfully arranging to carry out vile acts on very young children. Thankfully the person he was talking to was an undercover police officer, whose diligent and commendable work led to his imprisonment.
“I would like to praise all of those involved for catching Nicholson and helping prevent anyone else come to harm. A longer prison sentence for this despicable crime shows such behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated.”
Detective Sergeant James Bailey, of Cumbria Constabulary’s cyber and digital crime unit, said: “We welcome the increased sentence given out to Nicholson.
“Our specialist officers work hard behind the scenes all-year-round to deter offending, catch criminals and safeguard victims.
“We will not tolerate those carrying out such crimes and will continue to do what we can to target those offending in this way and bring them to justice.”
