Locations
Stoney Stile Way, Wells, BA5
Description
Vile David Nye's messages to the girl's "mother" were "disturbing and alarming"
A Somerset man has been jailed after travelling to Wiltshire to abuse a young girl.
David Nye, 56, of Stoney Stile Way in Wells, pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence at a hearing in November 2021.
His admission followed a joint investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU) and Wiltshire Police.
Nye was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday (Monday, February 21) and will remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.
Last summer, he communicated online and via email with someone he thought was the mother of a young girl. Between July 1 and 29, he discussed his sexual interest, before arranging to meet the womans child, with the intention of sexually abusing her.
However, during the investigation, there was never a real-life victim and no children were ever in any danger. Nye travelled to the meeting location on July 29, where he was arrested and taken to Melksham Police Station.
Detective Constable Jason Walsh, of the Wiltshire Police child internet exploitation team, said: "The messages exchanged between Nye and the 'mother' during the month-long interaction were highly disturbing and alarming.
"We were left beyond doubt that Nye posed a serious and dangerous risk to children and used the internet to find victims.
"As part of the Child Internet Exploitation Team, it is our duty to protect children and young people from the risk that predators like Nye pose and we will continue to work tirelessly to bring these people to justice and ensure the internet is not a safe place for them to pray on the vulnerable in our communities.
"We hope this sentence acts as a deterrent and highlights how serious this offence is."
Detective Inspector David Wells from the SW ROCU said: "If David Nye had met the young girl he intended to that day, then we know that child would have been subjected to horrific abuse.
"Thankfully, the work of our team, together with the investigation that followed by our colleagues at Wiltshire Police, meant no child was harmed and he has been prevented from carrying out his depraved plans.
"This is vital work, identifying offenders who use the internet to directly groom children, share indecent images of children, and, as in this case, attempt to arrange access to children to abuse.
"Law enforcement agencies are across the internet determined to ensure they dont succeed. It is vital parents and children themselves take steps to protect against the threat."
The NSPCC website has clear and extensive advice for parents and carers, children and young people, and professionals. If you are worried about something that has happened to your child online, report it to CEOP.
If you have concerns about your own use of the internet or inappropriate thoughts or behaviour about children, or you are worried about how someone you know behaves, then contact the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.