Description
A man who tried to groom a '14-year-old girl' for sex has been jailed.
Leighton Garner, aged 28, was in reality tricked by an online activist group into conversing with an adult volunteer in July and August last year.
Garner sent sexually explicit images to the person and requested pictures in exchange, despite her claiming to be a child.
At one point on their social media exchange, Garner received a picture of the ‘girl’ and clearly discussed her age.
Garner also discussed meeting the girl at a hotel for sex.
He also discussed meeting another woman at a Retford Supermarket on 2 August 2025, but was met instead by members of the group who then called the police.
Garner, of no fixed address, later pleaded guilty to guilty to attempting to cause a girl to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday 2 March he was jailed for 15 months and handed a ten-year sexual harm prevention order which will tightly restrict his internet usage and access to children.
Detective Constable Sarah Pitchford, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“Garner’s behaviour was little short of predatory.
“He genuinely believed he was in conversation with a teenage girl who he then attempted to groom for a sexual relationship.
“That’s why I am pleased not only with his jail sentence, but also with the very strict sexual harm prevention order we secured to help minimise the risk of future offending
“Garner should be under no illusion that any breach of this order once he is release will likely result in his immediate return to prison.”