Anthony Allen 30

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A man caught by paedophile hunters in Shropshire has been locked up after trying to meet a ‘13-year-old’ he spent weeks grooming for sex on WhatsApp.

Anthony Allen, 30, of Cae Daniel, Rhosllanerchrugog, committed the offences in 2018 when he lived in Whitchurch.

Simon Parry, prosecuting, told Shrewsbury Crown Court that Allen had eventually been confronted by members from the paedophile sting group ‘Decoy Central’ outside an Indian restaurant in Whitchurch - when he was expecting to meet a 13-year-old girl called ‘Ruby’.

Allen pleaded guilty to four charges - attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence, and two counts of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity. 

Mr Parry told the court that Allen had sent an unsolicited message to a dormant profile for 13-year-old ‘Ruby’ on a social media app at 1.53am on August 7, 2018.

The court was told how the adult woman behind the account had immediately messaged back to tell Allen she was 13 - he replied saying he was 24.

Mr Parry said Allen had asked for a picture of the girl, and replied telling her she was ‘cute’ after one was sent.