Trainspotter Jailed for Grooming 12-Year-Old Girl
Written by HFM News on 19th February 2026
A trainspotter has been jailed for nearly five years for grooming a 12-year-old girl he met at Kettering railway station.
Michael Lawrence, 36, was living in Market Harborough when he befriended the victim in summer 2022.
He then sent her more than 1,200 messages and voice notes over a two-year period, repeatedly attempting to instigate sexual contact.
Once he had groomed the girl into a friendship, he then began sending increasingly brazen, sexual messages where he told her had a “crush” on her and repeatedly tried to instigate sexual contact
In one message he said “sorry if I’m being flirty with you I’m naughty.” Before the next day then suggesting they could “be together secretly.”
In one 30-day period alone, he sent 223 messages, including one conversation where he warns her to be careful with what she tells her dad about him.
The barrage of messages only came to light following a separate police investigation. When officers went to his address to arrest him, he said “do you think I’m f****** dangerous?”.
Michael Lawrence Pic: British Transport Police
Lawrence, more recently of of Tudor Road, Hinckley, was found guilty of Inciting a Girl Under 13 To Engage In Sexual Activity at Leicester Crown Court.
He was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison, with an additional two years on extension.
He must also sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), preventing unsupervised contact with children under 16 and use of social media to contact minors.
British Transport Police Detective Constable Alex Price said: “This sentence is testament to the courage of the young girl who supported our investigation to get this extremely dangerous sexual predator behind bars. The sheer number of messages he sent and his escalating behaviour over two years show the disgusting motive behind his actions. He has shown no remorse for the lifelong impact on the young girl.”
DC Price added that anyone experiencing or witnessing suspicious behaviour on the railway should report it, either by texting 61016 or calling 999 in an emergency.
