Adrian Cartwright 54

Description

A pervert who tried to meet two schoolgirls for sexual activity on the same day has been jailed after thanking vigilantes for catching him.

Adrian Cartwright, who has previous for preying on young girls, made contact with what he thought were two 15-year-olds online and engaged in sexual chat and arranged to meet them. In fact he had been talking to decoy profiles set up by paedophile hunters Guardians of the North.

Using the moniker "Top dad", Cartwright communicated with both profiles online in October 2019. Within five messages to the first "girl" he had sent a picture of his penis and requested images of her "wearing less clothing". He also suggested she perform a sex act on him, asked about school uniform and underwear and talked about her sexual body parts.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he arranged to meet her at 4.30pm on October 11 at a car park in Birtley and requested that she didn't wear underwear.

He engaged in a similar chat with the second profile, saying he wanted regular meet ups, asking about her sexual experience and sending her pictures and asking for images of her. He arranged to meet her on October 11 at 11pm at an Asda and suggested they engage in sexual activity at an industrial estate.

Prosecutor Paul Cleasby said: "The prosecution say it's obvious he intended to meet two children on the same evening for the purpose of sexual activity. It's clear he intended to meet the children as he attended the first meeting when both decoys were present.

"The decoys, with other members of Guardians of the North, tried to block his vehicle in the car park but he mounted a grass verge and drove off at speed. He was briefly followed by Guardians of the North but due to his driving they abandoned any pursuit after seeing him drive through a red light and drive at speed on the wrong side of the road in a 20mph residential zone."

Police were contacted and he was arrested at his home a short time later. He appeared out of breath and claimed he didn't know why officers were there.

Cartwright, 52, of Ollerton Gardens, Felling, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and two counts of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. Judge Stephen Earl jailed him for 28 months and his lifelong sex offender registration and indefinite sexual harm prevention order continue to be in force.

The court heard he was convicted of eight offences of sexual activity in 2007 in relation to two 14-year-olds. He was given a suspended sentence for that.

The court heard Cartwright, who is in a relationship, said he committed the latest offences while bored at work. Representing himself, he said: "I would like to express my remorse. I have let myself and my family down.

"I would like to thank the Guardians for catching me doing this because it could have been someone else less defensive than themselves. I need help and don't believe a jail sentence would provide that help.

"A lot has changed in three years. I've changed my job and I'm a health and safety representative and have done first aid. I try to help people if I can.

"My parents' health has decreased and I spend a lot of time helping them. I really feel the need to be there for them."