Gordon Welch 68

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A paedophile who intended to abuse a schoolgirl turned up to a sting because he was “curious”, a court heard.

Gordon Welch, 67, arrived at McDonald’s in Shirley equipped with condoms, lubricant, and Viagra to meet what he thought was an 11-year-old child.

A court heard how the former DJ of Sheffield Road, Fratton, had been talking with a man online to arrange to meet and abuse his young daughter.

Using the aliases “Portsmouthmeet” and “Portsmouthnoman”, Welch spoke with the man, who was in fact an officer from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, indicating his intention to meet and sexually abuse the girl.

Prosecuting, Caroline Moonan explained how Welch told the officer, who went by the name of Jack, that he would “touch her”, asked for a picture of her in her uniform and even said he would have sex with the girl if she was willing. 

Agreeing to meet the “father and daughter”, Welch drove from Portsmouth to Southampton on May 12, this year.

However, when he arrived, he was met with police officers who arrested him at around 10am.

 Upon being searched, he was found with three condoms, flavoured lubricant and a Viagra tablet.

Ms Moonan explained how after he was arrested, he said: “I knew it was a trap but I was curious”.

She added that he “genuinely wanted to be with Jack’s daughter”.

When his home address was later searched, a pink Hello Kitty top and a packet containing more lubricant were found.

Welch originally pleaded not guilty claiming he didn’t intend to do anything sexual, but later changed his plea to guilty.

However, defending, Jamie Gammon told the court that he had “found it hard to accept that he would have engaged in contact had the opportunity arose there”.

“[There is] still an element in his mind that nothing would have happened. He says he would have driven off.”

He added that Welch indicates a “willingness to address his behaviour” and has the support of his wife who remains loyal to him. 

 Southampton Crown Court heard Welch has three previous convictions for six offences and was previously arrested for alleged sexual matters that he was never charged for.

The judge, Recorder Don Tait, told Welch “you remain a high risk to children”.

“You’re still in denial that you committed this offence. Thankfully on this occasion, no real victim was involved.

“But it was not through a lack of effort on your own.”

Welch was jailed for four years and six months for arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

He was also made subject to notification requirements for the next 10 years and a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely.

The items seized by police are set to be forfeited and destroyed.