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Description

Regan Mann was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on September 16.

The 20-year-old was also handed a restraining order forbidding him from contacting his victims.

He previously pleaded guilty to two charges of rape and one charge of abduction.

Mann, of First Avenue, had contacted a girl, who was under the age of 13, on Snapchat, before arranging to meet her on March 19.

The girl thought he was aged 14 or 15 but in reality, he was 19 years old.

She took along a friend of a similar age and Mann took both of them to his home in Brownhills.

DC Lucy Simpson, from the Complex Child Abuse Investigation Team at West Midlands Police, said: "Mann took advantage of his young victim, groomed her online and then arranged to meet up with her.

"She thought he was 14 or 15 but in reality he was 19. Despite knowing she was underage, he didn’t care.

"We are pleased with the sentence. This sends out a clear message that people who behave in this appalling way will be caught, convicted and will spend many years behind bars.

"The two girls have been very brave in providing evidence which has helped to successfully convict Mann. We hope their bravery encourages other people subjected to sexual abuse to come forward."

Description

A convicted sex offender landed himself in trouble with the police when checks revealed that he was not complying with the strict monitoring restrictions that had been placed on him over registering his details.

Craig Bronzo was repeatedly late in complying with his annual sex offender registration obligations despite a court order. During a routine monitoring visit by the police, he was asked to provide the PIN code for his mobile phone so that his internet activity could be analysed but he did not do so, Hull Crown Court heard.

Bronzo, 28, of Calvert Road, off County Road North, Hull, admitted failing to comply with his annual registration requirements as a sex offender within the required time frame on November 26, 2022 and again on October 2 last year.

He also admitted failing to provide the PIN for a mobile phone at Clough Road police station, Hull, on January 16 last year. The phone had been seized on October 2, 2020.

Jazmine Lee, prosecuting, said that Bronzo had previously been given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order because of his earlier convictions as a youth and he had to register as a sex offender.

The previous convictions included, in 2012, offences of raping a girl under 13, inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity and assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration. Bronzo had been given a youth rehabilitation order for two-and-a-half years.

He also had a conviction in 2014 for assaulting a boy under 13 by penetration. He had also been given a youth rehabilitation order for two-and-a-half years.

Under the terms of the sexual harm prevention order, Bronzo had to comply with registration conditions as a sex offender, including the annual notification of his details to the police, but he repeatedly did not do this and he was later arrested. He did eventually comply with the requirements.

In January last year, officers responsible for sex offender management called at his home to check his devices for internet use to ensure that there were no breaches of the conditions relating to what he was not allowed to do. He failed to provide the personal identification number for his mobile phone and he was arrested.

Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that the breaches were technical in their nature but Bronzo accepted that he needed to take the notification requirements that had been placed on him through the court order more seriously.

He was late for his annual registration of his details and he did not provide the PIN for a phone. He had pleaded guilty to the offences and he would comply with the orders of the sex offenders' register in future.

Bronzo was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence and 20 days' rehabilitation. The indefinite sexual harm prevention order will continue.

Bronzo was warned that he needed to take the sex offender registration requirements more seriously or he would face being jailed.

The court heard that Bronzo was originally accused of two offences of possessing indecent images or videos of girls on October 2, 2020 but these charges were dropped by the prosecution. No evidence was offered.

Description

Disgraced BBC News presenter Huw Edwards has been given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted charges of making indecent images of children.

The court heard that among a number of WhatsApp exchanges with a man later convicted of sex offences, Edwards was offered “naughty” images of somebody described as "yng (sic)", to which he replied "go on".

He will be placed on the sex offenders' register for seven years.

In July, the former newsreader admitted having 41 images, which were sent to him on WhatsApp – including some showing a victim aged between seven and nine.

During his sentencing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court he was also told to attend a sex offender treatment programme.

Edwards was sent images by a 25-year-old convicted sex offender called Alex Williams.

The court heard that in another exchange with Williams, Edwards replied "yes" followed by three 'X's when asked whether he wanted sexual images of a person whose "age could be discerned as being between 14 and 16".

He responded to Williams with: "Amazing". The court heard he was also sent a link with more images, then discussed buying Williams a Christmas present.

Two months later, after yet another exchange, Edwards told Williams: "Don't send anything underage", however this was not the last contact Edwards had with Williams.

The judge sentencing him remarked that the former broadcaster's "long-earned reputation" was "in tatters".

A BBC spokesperson said the corporation was "appalled" by Edwards' crimes.

"He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him.”

Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. Under the law, images can mean photos or clips.

The chief magistrate, District Judge Paul Goldspring, accepted Edwards’ submission that he did not make or create the images in the conventional sense, and instead met the legal definition of doing so by opening them on WhatsApp.

The court previously heard that Edwards sent hundreds of pounds to Williams after he sent him pornographic images.

While most of the images were of adult men, a significant proportion of the images were of children.

Of the 377 images, 41 were indecent images, which means they were underage.

The court heard that the Category A images Edwards was in possession of were mostly children aged 13-15.

One child was aged between seven and nine.

The offences were committed between December 2020 and August 2021.

Williams first contacted Edwards in 2018 via Instagram, and has since been convicted and sentenced for distribution and possession of indecent images of children – and it was during that investigation that Edwards’ involvement was revealed, the court heard.

Throughout the hearing, Edwards sat leaning forward, his hands clasped in front of his mouth, elbows propped on his thighs.

Summing up the case, the judge said there was no evidence that Edwards did anything further with the images he received from Williams.

The court heard Edwards had not directly paid for the images, but that there was a clear inference that Williams would request gifts and presents after sending them, and that Edwards had sent money, described by the prosecution as amounting to around £1,000 to £1,500.

Edwards had told Williams not to send images of people who were underage, but only at a later stage, the judge said, adding “this is not a case where, despite protestation not to, nonetheless the images were still sent”.

But the judge found Edwards’ remorse was genuine, and he said the former broadcaster’s decision-making at the time of the offences may have been impaired by his mental health difficulties.

He said Edwards did not pose a risk to the public or children, and an immediate custodial sentence was not necessary because the evidence showed he could be rehabilitated.

The appropriate sentence would be 12 months for the most severe abuse images, the judge said, but, taking into account the mitigation and early guilty plea, he said the sentence would be six months suspended for two years.

It means Edwards will not go to jail unless he commits another offence within the sentence period.

The magistrate also read from a pre-sentence report to highlight the impact such offences have on the victims.

It described how distributing child abuse images “perpetuates a cycle of abuse” and can lead to ongoing traumatisation of victims, impacting them throughout their lives and potentially making them vulnerable to further sexual abuse.

Edwards was found to have seven category A images - the most serious classification.

He also had 12 category B pictures, and 22 photographs in category C, the least serious classification.

The category B and C pictures showed children aged between 12 to 15.

Reacting to the sentencing, the prime minister said he was "shocked and appalled" by the case.

Until last year, Edwards was one of the main presenters on BBC One's News at Ten and often fronted coverage of major national events.

He was the BBC's highest-paid journalist, receiving between £475,000 and £479,999 between April 2023 and April 2024.

The BBC has asked him to return the £200,000 he earned between his arrest last November and his resignation this April.

The BBC's director general said last week that "discussions are under way" about the possibility of clawing back the money.

Description

A sex abuser who's campaign went on for more than half a century has finally faced justice.

Atherton man Peter James Wilson, 67, began his series of crimes in 1972 and would go on to abuse seven victims over the next 51 years.

Bolton Crown Court heard how his crimes had ranged from incident assault, rape and others.

Judge Abigail Hudson said: “The reality of your offending is that damage you have caused will go on forever.”

Starting in 1972 Wilson began a horrifying pattern of abusive behaviour towards young people that went on for decades.

He subjected multiple victims to deeply traumatising experiences, ranging from inappropriate advances to devastating acts of coercion and rape.

Wilson’s crimes continued over the years as he manipulated and took advantage of his victims, shattering their innocence and trust.

But 2023 marked a turning point, as Wilson was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault involving a child following an incredibly brave disclosure from one of his victims.

This led to a police search of his home where police found two mobile phone devices, a disc enclosed within an envelope, and a small camera containing an SD card and a hidden camera.

Analysis of the camera and mobile phones unearthed videos showing the exploitation of a female child.

These videos fell under the category of first-generation, type A indecent images of children, capturing deeply distressing and sadistic acts.

Upon gathering this information, people were interviewed, and evidence was taken.

This led to the discovery of further victims of Wilson's horrific abuse and Operation Bunker was initiated to manage all 28 counts of Wilsons abuse and his crimes.

Brought before the courts Wilson, of Bowling Green Row, Atherton, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 by touching.

He also admitted to sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 by penetration, and creating an indecent image of a child.

But after a trial he was also found guilty by a jury of 23 further sexual offences relating to child and adults including indecent assault and rape.

Judge Hudson commended the courage of Wilson’s victims and jailed him for 27 years with an extended licence period of five years.

He will also be on the sex offenders' register for life and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A depraved pensioner who groomed a vulnerable teenager he met online by paying him hundreds of pounds in cash has been jailed.

David Smith knew from the outset of speaking to the boy in a Kik chatroom that he was underage and, as soon as the communication switched to WhatsApp, it turned sexual, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

The 68-year-old, described as "dangerous and manipulative", asked the youngster for explicit photographs and to perform sex acts on camera.

He pestered him even when he was at school and into the early hours when his parents were asleep.

The Rainham sex offender also preyed on the boy's emotions, describing how he was lonely, depressed and suffering from cancer.

The victim later told police how he had been profoundly affected by the online abuse and cruelly bullied by his peers after they heard about his ordeal.

Prosecutor Allister Walker told the court that Smith transferred a total of 845 to the teenager over the four months that they were talking.

At the time of his warped communications, which were also conducted over the Telegram app, Smith was on bail having been caught out in a police sting for similar behaviour.

Unbeknown to the pervert, the 12-year-old boy he was grooming over a month-long period was an undercover officer.

Again, they had met through Kik, in a chatroom called Schoolboys, with Smith calling himself Peter Fowler and with the username hugsandcuddles67.

They then exchanged messages and images via SnapChat.

It is clear that the officer told the defendant his age - that he was 12, referred to being at school and his profile was one of a child in school uniform, said Mr Walker.

They talked about him (the undercover officer) being in a changing room getting ready for PE.

The defendant asked if there were any boys there that he fancied, what they might be wearing and if he could see their 'bulges'.

The boy (officer) talked about going to the cinema but the defendant would turn the conversation sexual.

The nature of it clearly demonstrates grooming, telling him he was sexy, asking for pictures, and saying he would love to be the guy who teaches you things.

The defendant said he was aroused and if they met they could have sexy fun.

The court heard Smith also suggested on several occasions about meeting up but later messaged to say he was disappointed it could not go ahead as he was due to have a knee operation.

A week later he was arrested at his home in Childscroft Road. He told police he talked to a lot of people online and if he had known the age he would have stopped.

But, having been bailed, he continued to groom the other boy, even telling him about his arrest, and to send him money.

Smith, who has two previous convictions for possessing indecent images in 2002 and 2006, was re-arrested in February this year and gave a 'No comment' interview.

The court heard he later pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence in respect of the undercover officer.

But it was not until the first day of trial when the teenager had attended court that offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual communication with a child were admitted.

In a victim impact statement, the boy told police of the many difficulties he had faced as a consequence of the abuse and for which he had had to undergo therapy.

It's scary there are people online who would take advantage of children, he said. I really hope this doesn't happen to any other children and David gets the punishment he deserves.

Toby Long, defending, said his client had acknowledged he was sexually attracted to children, had expressed shame and remorse, and was motivated to address his behaviour.

The trigger, he added, was a prolonged grief disorder following the death of his mum in 2018, together with social isolation and his prostate cancer diagnosis.

He went down a rabbit hole of constant online chatrooms, mostly talking to adults and lapsing on two occasions, said Mr Long.

He tells me he is extremely remorseful and deeply ashamed and wants to apologise for the trauma and distress caused.

Jailing Smith on Friday (September 13) for a total of nine years, of which he will have to serve at least two-thirds before he can apply for parole, Judge Philip Statman said he posed a significant risk of harm to children.

"Despite your low mood, you have persisted in seeking sexual gratification and you are someone capable of grooming and manipulating your victims," he told the pensioner.

"In my judgment, having looked at everything I know about you, including your background, your employment in the past, your attitude towards your late mother and your previous relevant convictions which are an aggravating feature despite their age and the period of time that has elapsed between them and this offence, all of those matters support the view that I have that you are dangerous.

Smith was also told that once released, any licence period will be extended by two years.

He will also be subject to lifelong sex offender notification requirements and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A County Durham paedophile who plied young boys with alcohol and showed them pornography before assaulting them has been jailed.

Alan Rutter, 78, of Easington, committed the offences over several years in the 1990s, with some of his victims as young as eight years old. During a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the pensioner was found guilty of 11 charges including child abduction, sexual activity with a child, and indecent assault and buggery - now classed as rape.

He was sentenced to 19 years in prison, and will also be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Description

A former Fleetwood councillor has today been jailed for a total of seven years after previously being found guilty of rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Tony O’Neill, 59, formerly of The Esplanade, Fleetwood, was convicted of the charges following a trial at Preston Crown Court in July.

He appeared at the same court today for sentencing for the historic offences, which prosecutors say occurred when the defendent was a younger man.

O’Neill, formerly of The Esplanade, became a well-known figure in Fleetwood after serving on the town council and co-founding the local branch of the charity Men’s Shed in 2018, a support group for men who have experienced mental illness.

He left the charity in 2022 and is no longer involved.

He was also familiar to many from his years working as a taxi driver and running a pub in the town.

But in 2022, O’Neill was arrested and charged with four counts of rape of a female, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) and a charge of burglary in a dwelling with intent to rape.

He pleaded not guilty to all counts but was convicted by jury who found him guilty on two counts of rape and both counts of ABH.

Judge HHJ Mathieson jailed O’Neill for seven years for the rape counts and one year for the assault, but ordered that these be served concurrently rather than consecutively, meaning the total sentece was seven years.

Description

A Bedford man who groomed a 13-year-old boy on Snapchat and drove to Worthing to rape him has been jailed.

Thomas Crabtree, 35, of Sundew Close in Bedford, was sentenced to serve ten years in prison, followed by six years on licence, when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court on 12 September.

He will also be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Detective Chief Inspector Carrie Williams said: “Thomas Crabtree is a predator who, thanks to the bravery of this young boy, is now safely behind bars.

“He manipulated and took advantage of the boy, who suffered an unimaginable ordeal over several  hours. The boy was incredibly courageous in helping bring his attacker to justice and ensure he poses no further risk to anyone.

“I would like to thank him and his family for their determination.”

Crabtree contacted the boy on Snapchat, using the name Will, and repeatedly sent him sexually explicit images.

He arranged to meet his victim in Worthing on 3 April, 2024. He picked him up in his car, drove him to a remote area near Goring Gap in Worthing and raped him.

Crabtree then drove the boy around in his car in silence, before dropping him off in Worthing and returning to Bedford.

The victim was subjected to an ordeal lasting several hours.

Snapchat data showed Crabtree blocked the victim and deleted all the messages between them, before attempting to make contact again the following month.

The victim reported to police and he and his family were given specialist support that continued throughout the court process.

Crabtree was identified through the Snapchat account and arrested.

He was subsequently charged with two charges of rape; assault by penetration; causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; sexual communication with a child; causing a child to watch a sexual act; meeting a child following sexual grooming; and abducting a child.

He pleaded guilty to all counts and was remanded in custody when he appeared at Hove Crown Court on Wednesday 10 July.

Description

A man who sexually abused two young girls has been sentenced.

Jack Nepean sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl left in his care in Crawley on New Year’s Eve.

An investigation in Devon also revealed how he had also abused a five-year-old girl there.

The victims have been praised for their “extraordinary bravery” for reporting their experience to police.

Nepean, aged 30, was jailed for a total of 12 years when he appeared for sentencing at Hove Crown Court on September 11.

He was told he would have to serve a minimum of two thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for parole.

The court also imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his future access to children and devices.

Sussex Police investigated Nepean, who admitted sexual assault be penetration of a girl under 13 In Crawley, sexual assault by touching of a girl under the age of 13 in Crawley, making indecent images of a child in Sussex.

This took place when the girl was in Nepean's care on New Year's Eve from December 31, 2022, into January 1, 2023.

The offences were disclosed to police in early January 2023. Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police identified further offences linked on Nepean’s mobile phone and investigated further sexual offences committed by Nepean.

He admitted sexual assault committed on a five-year-old girl, making indecent images of the child, three counts of voyeurism, and three counts of possessing indecent images of children in category A, B and C.

Nepean, formerly of an address in Devon, has now started his prison sentence.

Description

A convicted sex offender who accessed Facebook under a false name after being released from prison was today (Friday) jailed for two years.

Jamie Barton, of Spring Street, Spalding, was caught after the authorities were notified by monitoring software which was installed on his mobile phone.

Barton, 29, was convicted of offences including sexual communication with a child and engaging in sexual activity with a child aged under-16 at Norwich Crown Court in December 2022.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Barton was released from prison in May this year under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prevented him from accessing social media.

Barton was also ordered to report any alias names used by him to the police.

Following his release from jail it was discovered Barton had been using Facebook under the name 'Tom Green' and also accessing Facebook Messenger and SnapChat.

Numerous chats were exchanged with women but none were children, the court heard.

When the authorities were alerted by monitoring software on his mobile phone Barton admitted clicking on Facebook in a "moment of stupidity."

Barton said he had been using the Tom Green name before his prison sentence and reactivated it when he was released.

Rebecca Freitas, mitigating, said Barton had no friends and was seeking company. She stressed none of the new contacts were under-18.

Barton admitted two charges of breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and failing to notify a change in the use of his name.

The court heard Barton is currently back in custody after being recalled to complete his original jail sentence.

Passing sentence Recorder Simon King told Barton he would now have to serve a two year jail sentence alongside those matters.

"You need to understand that courts need to take very seriously breaches of your order," Recorder King said.

"It is clear to me you represent a very real potential risk if you breach these orders."

Description

A predatory paedophile molested teenage girls at his Perth home after showing them Marvel movies and teaching them sex education.

Ryan Kinnear forced himself on his three young victims, using a massage gun on one and preying on another while she slept.

Description

A “devious” sex offender who admitted downloading thousands of indecent images of children dumped his mobile phone into a lough in disgust at what he had done, the High Court heard on Wednesday.

William Mullan told police his addiction then drove him to access and store more photographs of babies and other youngsters on a second device.

The 42-year-old, of Old Rossorry Park in Enniskillen, used an alias to set up social media accounts in order to obtain the material online.

Details emerged as he was refused bail on charges of breaching a Sexual Offenders Prevention Order (SOPO) and possessing indecent images.

Prosecutors said police were alerted earlier this month that he had used Snapchat to post a Category A video of a child online in October last year.

Mullan had used an alias to register an account on the messaging platform.

A phone seized from the defendant was examined and found to contain 2,500 images of children ranging from babies to teenagers, the court heard.

By that stage, a 10-year SOPO had been imposed on him following a previous conviction for having indecent photos.

Crown counsel said Mullan freely admitted during interviews that he had purchased two mobiles without permission, with the intention to go online and feed his addiction to child pornography.

“He created an alias username to set up a Snapchat account and then engaged with children he believed to be aged between 15 and 17,” the barrister disclosed.

Referring to the undiscovered device, she added: “He said he threw that phone in the lough as he was disgusted with what was on it, [but] admitted it contained a lot of bad things, namely indecent images of children.”

Mullan then purchased the second mobile and used it to access the Telegram messaging app, again intent on accessing similar illegal material.

“He said he downloaded up to 2,000 images onto the app and then, after a period of time, he would delete them due to his disgust with himself,” the prosecutor submitted.

“He has done this at least five times.”

The court also heard Mullan changed the SIM card twice after being banned from the app for being involved with indecent images.

Opposing bail, she argued that he is a Category One registered sex offender who poses a high risk.

“He is saying that he has an active addiction,” counsel stressed.

Mullan’s barrister suggested he could be safely managed and should be released from custody due to anticipated delays in the case.

However, Lord Justice Horner refused bail, based on concerns about potential re-offending.

He told the defendant’s legal representatives: “He’s quite obviously devious and prepared to take steps to access images he should not be accessing.”

Description

A man who approached young children in Blackburn town centre, kissed a painting, and racially abused a security officer who intervened has been jailed for six months.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Yves Tempels' bizarre behaviour caused great distress to the parents of children, one of them thinking he was trying to snatch her four-year-old son.

Tempels, 40, of Hermitage Street, Rishton, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour and racially aggravated threatening behaviour towards Mubeen Khalifa.

He was jailed for 26 weeks and ordered to pay £80 compensation to each of the three victims.

Nicola Mills, prosecuting, said the incidents occurred in the early afternoon of Sunday, August 4.

A mother with her two children, aged seven and four, was outside Holland and Barrett in The Mall when Tempels approached.

He spoke to the four-year-old child and said “come on” before crouching down and reaching out for the boy’s arm.

“She was deeply  concerned about what he was trying to do,” said Miss Mills.

“Her initial thought was that he was trying to take her child away from her.”

Shortly after a man in McDonalds with his two children noticed the defendant, who was clearly intoxicated, talking to himself.

He took a painting that had been done by children down from the wall and started kissing it.

“He was using foul language and the man asked him to stop swearing before moving away,” said Miss Mills.

“The defendant followed and the man saw him touch his daughter's hair and then he appeared to be sniffing her hair.

"He then touched the foot of a baby who was in a pram nearby.”

Miss Mills said when Mr Khalifa, a security guard, intervened Tempels racially abused him by calling him a “monkey.”

“There is a worrying undertone to the offences, made more concerning because he has previously been convicted of sexual offences and is on the sex offender register,” said Miss Mills.

“He has appeared by video link from prison because he is serving a sentence for breaching sex offender registration requirements."

Richard Prew, by way of mitigation, said his client had suffered a fall and sustained head injuries which required hospital treatment.

“When he was discharged he went for a drink which probably exasperated his concussion,” said Mr Prew.

“He already has mental health issues and its concerning that he doesn’t remember what he did that day.”

Description

A Fife paedophile pensioner caught with almost 100,000 child abuse images had a price list and a manual giving instructions on how to download them.

Graham Dickie from Kirkcaldy also amassed a video collection with a run-time of more than two-and-a-half days.

Description

A known pervert who nicknamed his penis “Frank” told a 13-year-old that he “wanted to hide him” after grooming the youngster on Facebook.

Leeds Crown Court was told that the remark was Ronald Ling’s way of suggesting he wanted sexual intercourse with the girl.

The convicted paedophile, who is already on the sex offender register for life, also said he wanted to play strip snap with her, and suggested they meet but she bring a change of clothes because it “could get messy”.

The girl was in fact a decoy profile run by the online hunter group, Predator Exposure. Ling, 53, was suspicious of the supposed girl and even suggested he may be getting set up, but continued to message.

Prosecutor Nick Adlington said the profile received a friend request over Facebook from Ling on May 1 this year.

Despite her telling him she was only 13, he persisted in calling her “sexy”, even though he admitted to her he may get called a “nonce” and raised questions over the legitimacy of the profile.

He sent an indecent image of a child and a picture of an erect penis. He told her be had bought her a mobile phone and confectionary. He even suggested what bus she could get to reach his home on Wykebeck Road in Halton.

Ling then referred to his penis as Frank and her vagina as Cat, before making the euphemism about hiding Frank.

A video call took place between him and member of Predator Exposure on May 19, even though the decoy told him her camera was not working on her phone. Ling gave her a guided tour of his home and the garden, even telling others living there that he was on the phone to his niece.

He was approached and detained by members of the hunter group two days later at his home, after they recognised it from the video call. The police were called and he was arrested.

Ling admitted it was his Facebook profile, and that he had been communicating with the girl, but said he knew he should have not taken part. He claimed he had no intention of meeting her, and tried to claim he had no sexual interest in children.

The court heard that Ling had been jailed in 2007 for 44 months for eight counts of sexual activity with a child. He was put on the sex offender register for life and given a life-long sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

For his latest offending, he admitted attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence, and breach of his SHPO. He has been held on remand since his arrest.

Mitigating, Michael Walsh said: “He tells me he got carried away with what was happening. On one level he was enjoying the interaction with the other person.

“On another level he did think that this maybe is some decoy or an attempt to dupe him. He is a man of significant health problems and he is awaiting various medical procedures.”

The judge, Recorder Alex Menary, said that given Ling’s history and previous offences, only a custodial sentence would suffice.

He jailed him for 32 months, and said he would continue to remain on his SHPO and the sex register for life.