Canterbury Crown Court, where Thwaites' case was heard

by Paul Hooper

A Citroen Xsara used by a 75-year-old paedophile to lure a teenager for sex – has been seized on the orders of a judge.

Pervert Henry Thwaites – who has “an appalling record for sex offences” - had picked up a 13-year-old boy – and then driven him to London.

But Canterbury Crown Court heard the youngster was a “damaged young boy” who had run away from Thanet.

The jury heard how the youngster had gone to public toilets in the hope of getting cash in return for sexual favours.

Judge Heather Norton said Thwaites had gone to a place “where people have sexual encounters" adding:" And you found a 13-year-old willing victim”.

In September last year he met Thwaites who drove him from Thanet to London in his distinct green and blue Citroen, via Canterbury and Ashford.

Authorities were later alerted and people went to London to collect the missing teenager who revealed what had happened.

Prosecutor Richard Barton said that police were then able to trace Thwaites’ car after examining ANPR data which records the registration plate numbers of vehicles.

Thwaites, of Ethelbert Terrace, Margate, was convicted of sexually abusing a child. He denied the offence.

The judge told him: “You knew that what you did was wholly wrong. You called your victim a liar but the lies came from you.”

She jailed him for three years and ordered the car used during the offence to be forfeited.