Description
Terry Roberts, 58, sent a naked photo to what he believed was a 14-year-old boy, before attempting to meet him at Southampton Sports Centre.
But Roberts was actually talking, through an online dating app, to members of the 'paedophile hunter' group TRAP.
And when he went to the meeting, he was confronted by TRAP 'hunter' Stephen Dure.
At Southampton Crown Court on Monday, Roberts was given a 21-month prison term after evidence was provided by Mr Dure.
The court heard how Roberts, on the dating app, began messaging Dure’s false account, and “within six messages”, Dure had informed Roberts, of Plaitford Walk, that he was under-age.
Within 36 hours, Roberts had sent Dure’s account a naked photo of himself, and asked to meet, adding “we can take it at your pace, maybe we will have a kiss”, prosecuting barrister Giles Bedloe told the court.
He added: “On February 17 at 10am, Mr Roberts sent a message asking if he was still happy to meet at 3pm that day. When Mr Dure arrived, he went into a nearby pub, and identified the defendant. He then sent a message to Mr Roberts informing him he was down by the tennis courts and was confronted by Mr Dure.”
Defending, Timothy Akers told the court that the probation service “hadn’t given up” on Mr Roberts, who has similar convictions from 25 years ago.
He said: “The offences themselves are, of course, attempts. He took an overdose this time of his blood pressure medicine after committing these offences. I would have concerns over his mental health.”
Sentencing Roberts for attempting to meet a child for sexual activity, judge Nicholas Rowland said: “You didn’t know that (it was not a 14-year-old boy) and you turned up at the meeting with the intention of sexual activity.”
Roberts was given a 21-month prison term.