Burnley man jailed for sending sexual messages to girl he thought was 14
It was actually an adult paedophile hunter
Last updated 5th May 2026
A man from Burnley has been jailed for three years after sending explicit messages to a girl he thought was 14.
Turns out, it was actually a paedophile hunter.
John Crossley, 44, of Leyland Road, Burnley, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child and attempting to cause/incite a female child under 16 to engage in sexual activity.
Preston Crown Court heard how an adult member of a paedophile hunter group told police about Crossley's actions in November 2025.
Evidence proved he'd sent multiple sexually explicit messages to a girl he thought was 14.
As well as his jail sentence, he's also been handed a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Det Con Beth Turner, of Lancashire Police’s Internet Child Exploitation Team, said: “Crossley has a clear sexual interest in young girls and the custodial sentence handed down to him reflects the danger that he poses.
“We will continue to pursue and bring to justice, with the public’s help, those who seek to abuse youngsters for their own sexual gratification.”