Lincolnshire Police comment on jail term for former Long Sutton man Lee Merrison who ‘groomed’ a young girl

Police have hailed the incredible courage of a young victim who was preyed on by an ‘abhorrent’ paedophile from the age of 11.

Lee Merrison, 34, formerly of Delph Road in Long Sutton but now of Elm High Road, Emneth, was sent to prison for five years and 10 months at Lincoln Crown Court today (July 4).

He had been found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 17, two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, and one count of exposure.

Officer have issued more details of his ‘reprehensible’ behaviour and can now reveal that the vile predator was defiant in interviews and offered ‘no comment’ when asked about his sick actions.

Detective Constable Helen Wood, of Boston and South Holland’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said: “Merrison groomed his victim under abhorrent circumstances – taking unscrupulous advantage of her at a time of profound 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 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.”

The then 29-year-old first exposed himself to the victim in 2020 and groomed her by offering a vape in return for her exposing her breasts.

He sent a first indecent image to the young girl – who was known to him — in 2021. Police say he later deleted it, claiming that he had meant to send it to someone else.

The abuse extended to physical touching on at least two occasions in 2022, where he sexually assaulted the victim under her clothing.

In 2023, he sent a similarly indecent image, saying that he’d sent it by mistake; he proceeded to delete it a short while later.

Officers stated: “Such was his defiance, that the defendant provided ‘no comment’ throughout his interviews with detectives, aside from stating that one particular indecent message had been intended for a consenting adult, whose name happened to be next to that of the victim in his contact list, which he claimed only happened once; but then changed to twice, and then for a third time, where he said he’d meant to send it to another consenting adult, following evidence seized from mobile phone downloads.

“The defendant subjected his victim to further distress by continuing to deny his actions and forcing the case to go to trial.”

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.