Lee Merrison Emneth Paedophile
Lee Merrison Emneth Paedophile

Lee Merrison, the Emneth Paedophile, from Norfolk, has been convicted of transmitting indecent photographs to his young victim, who was under 11 years old when the abuse commenced.

The court was informed that the 29-year-old initially exposed himself to the woman in 2020 and manipulated her by promising a vape in exchange for her to reveal her breasts.

In 2021, Lee Merrison transmitted the initial obscene image to the young girl, with whom he was acquainted. He subsequently removed it, asserting that it was intended for another recipient.

The abuse involved physical contact on at least two instances in 2022, during which he sexually attacked the girl beneath her clothing.

In 2023, Lee Merrison’s egregious conduct resurfaced when he transmitted a comparable inappropriate image, claiming it was received in error; he subsequently deleted it shortly thereafter.

The defendant exhibited such defiance that he offered ‘no comment’ during his interviews with detectives, except for asserting that a specific indecent message was intended for a consenting adult, whose name coincidentally appeared alongside that of the victim in his contact list. He initially claimed this occurred once, then revised it to twice, and ultimately stated it was intended for a different consenting adult, in light of evidence obtained from mobile phone downloads.

The defendant,Lee Merrison, exacerbated the victim’s misery by persistently denying his acts and compelling the matter to proceed to trial.

The jury received unambiguous evidence for conviction, stemming from the trust and remarkable courage of the young victim, alongside the robust case assembled by Detective Constable Helen Wood of the Boston and South Holland Protecting Vulnerable People Unit.

Upon the case’s completion, DC Wood remarked: “Lee Merrison exploited his victim under reprehensible conditions, taking unethical advantage of her during a period of significant vulnerability.”

“The now survivor of his appalling acts thankfully placed her trust in us – to speak out and pursue justice. That kind of courage cannot be overstated. Bringing Lee Merrison before the court stands as a crucial step toward reclaiming her dignity and affirming the truth.

“His actions were a stark betrayal of decency, manipulating a young person when they required protection most.

“We believed her. We stood beside her. And we made sure she was heard. Today marks the beginning of her journey beyond the trauma – toward peace, resilience, and a future defined by her own undeniable strength of character.”

Lee Merrison, 34, formerly of Delph Road, Long Sutton but now of Elm High Road, Emneth, near Wisbech in Norfolk, was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a girl 13 – 17 years old, two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, and one count of exposure.

Lee Merrison was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday 4 July to five years and 10 months in prison.

Lee Merrison was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which limits his contact with girls and the internet. He must also register as a sex offender for life.

Four charges on which the jury failed to reach verdicts were left to lie on the file.


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